Here's what’s been happening recently at VTB, RenCap and Troika

Russia’s banks have been busy. Despite jitters about the durability of the solution to the eurozone’s problems, they’ve been both hiring and promoting people – although not necessarily in Moscow.

Firstly, VTB continues its overseas push. It’s just opened its new office in New York and is holding an investor conference to mark the occasion. Bloomberg points out that VTB is also expanding its Middle East equities business.

Secondly, Renaissance Capital is expanding in Nigeria. Business Today reports that RenCap is launching a range of Nigerian fixed income products in the second quarter. It’s not clear whether it will hire in Nigeria as a result.

RenCap has also been hiring in London, where it recruited Andrew Osborne, a corporate broker who previously worked at Merrill Lynch. Osborne reportedly received 20 different job offers, suggesting RenCap may have attracted him with unusually generous pay.

In Russia, Rencap promoted two new people to its partnership. Alexander Merzlenko, deputy CEO and head of Russian investment banking and financing, was made a partner. So was Nick Andrews, global head of markets.

Finally, Troika hired Dmitry Sredin, formerly chairman of Renaissance Advisors as a senior banker for its corporate investment unit. Troika’s also declared its intention of leading the Russian pensions insurance market by the end of this year. Troika Dialog is very soon to be rebranded, ‘Sberbank Investment Bank.’