#London #United Kingdom #investment banking #Oppenheimer Holdings

Oppenheimer Strengthens European Investment Banking Presence

Oppenheimer Europe, a subsidiary of Oppenheimer Holdings (NYSE: OPY), has announced significant growth in its London-based investment banking team. The firm has successfully attracted three prominent senior bankers from Hannam Partners, enhancing its offerings in European financial services and public mergers and acquisitions.

The new recruits include Ernest Bell, who takes on the role of Managing Director and will lead Public Mergers and Acquisitions and Wealth Management for the European division. He is joined by Giles Fitzpatrick, Vice President and Director of European Investment Banking, and Richard Clarke, a seasoned Senior Advisor. Additionally, Lucia Sviatkova will also be part of the team as a Public Mergers and Acquisitions partner in Europe.

Max Lami, the CEO of Oppenheimer's European operations, expressed excitement about this expansion, emphasizing the global collaboration and high-quality execution that the bankers bring to Oppenheimer’s European clients. He noted, “Our sector bankers in Europe operate globally and collaborate across borders to deliver high-quality execution and significant results for our clients.”

Background of the New Team Members

Ernest Bell arrives at Oppenheimer with over two decades of experience in public markets and wealth management transactions, advising on deals exceeding $25 billion. His previous roles include positions at Investec and Bank of America Merrill Lynch, along with his most recent position as a partner at Hannam Partners.

Giles Fitzpatrick, with a solid background in high-stakes financial environments, formerly served as partner and CEO at Hannam Partners and has held executive roles at Canaccord Genuity and other prominent firms. He sees the current evolution within the UK wealth management industry as an opportunity and commented, “Since the global financial crisis, the US has consolidated its position as the epicenter of national and international capital markets and mergers and acquisitions.”

Richard Clarke brings his expertise from KPMG, where he led Corporate Finance, Mergers and Acquisitions, and Wealth Management. With over 100 client success stories under his belt, he specializes in issues facing financial institutions and private equity firms, particularly in the wealth management sector.

Expanding Wealth Management and M&A Capabilities

The increase in activities sparked by generational wealth transfer and technological advancements stands to benefit Oppenheimer's clients as the firm navigates a landscape marked by US-led investment activity. Bell elaborated, “In public M&A, we will continue advising offeror and target companies in public takeover situations, benefiting from a global platform and a leading middle-market investment bank's capabilities.”

Gilbert Dychiao, Co-Head of Investment Banking and Global Head of the Financial Institutions Group at Oppenheimer, stressed the importance of this new team in furthering Oppenheimer’s strength in advising US wealth management and capital markets.

According to Dychiao, “With over 30 investment bankers serving financial services companies in the US and UK, Oppenheimer is well-positioned to be the trusted advisor of choice for companies and sponsors engaged in the UK wealth management ecosystem.”

Conclusion

With this strategic hiring, Oppenheimer is not only enhancing its footprint in the European market but also positioning itself as a formidable player in the realms of wealth management and mergers and acquisitions. The firm’s commitment to delivering exceptional results through a highly skilled team is expected to yield fruitful outcomes for both its clients and its internal objectives as it navigates the challenges and opportunities of the evolving financial landscape in Europe.