Thomas Weisel Partners Group, a global investment bank, has added five professionals to its brokerage and investment banking divisions.
George Topping has joined as a senior mining analyst covering base metals, Sapna Srivastava will join as a senior healthcare analyst covering biotechnology, John Ragozzino has joined as an energy analyst covering US exploration & production, Marty Flynn has joined as a director in institutional sales based in Dallas and Steven Foland has joined as a managing director in investment banking focused on the financial sponsor and venture capital-backed companies in Asia, with a particular focus on those companies in China.
Mr Topping has 10 years of experience in the mining industry and 14 years as a sell-side analyst, most recently with Blackmont Capital.
Ms Srivastava brings 10 years of industry experience to the firm and was most recently a senior biotech analyst at Morgan Stanley. She will start in January 2010 and will be based in the firm’s New York office.
Mr Ragozzino had been covering the exploration and production sector at Wells Fargo Securities for the past three years.
Mr Flynn brings 13 years of industry experience to the firm, most recently with Jefferies. He has covered accounts in Texas for the past eight years. He is based in the firm’s Dallas office.
Mr Foland has over 15 years of experience at both bulge bracket and growth equity investment banks. He has spent approximately 10 years as a resident in Hong Kong while conducting business across non-Japan Asia. He is based in the firm’s San Francisco office.
Lionel Conacher, president and COO of Thomas Weisel Partners Group, said: “Our clients will benefit from our expanded coverage of growth companies in the mining and energy sectors with Mr Topping and Mr Ragozzino extensive knowledge of the space. Ms Srivastava is a highly ranked analyst with a proven track record covering biotech companies.
“Mr Flynn’s addition expands our geographical sales coverage focusing on accounts based in Texas. And, given the strong growth opportunities in Asia, Mr Foland will spearhead our China initiative focusing on financial sponsor and venture capital-backed companies.”
