Mystery as head of European trading and sales trading disappears from RBC

Where is Mark Sartori? Headhunters say RBC's European head of trading and sales trading is no longer in his role. And the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Register shows that Sartori left the bank in the UK on March 15th.

RBC isn't commenting on Sartori's whereabouts. A call to his desk revealed that he's 'away' and we understand that he hasn't actually left the bank globally - suggesting that he may have been transferred overseas.

In Sartori's absence, headhunters say that Graeme Pearson, head of research, has taken a more senior role in RBC's equities team.

Sartori joined RBC from Macquarie in 2012. Prior to that, he spent 17 years at Fox-Pitt Kelton in London. Under Sartori, RBC expanded its European equities business, including hiring Pearson to build out equity research in August 2013.

Sartori's disappearance comes at a time of change for European equities businesses. Citigroup just hired Murray Roos from Deutsche Bank as global head of sales for equities and prime finance. Jefferies just hired Ed Keen from UBS as European head of cash equities. Recruiters say hiring in the area is picking up.