Merrill Lynch has hired Rory Hill, v.p. and equity derivatives trader at Nomura in London, in a similar role. Hill, who was on gardening leave and could not be reached, covered single stock trading at Nomura, reporting to Marc Baylis, head of single stock options. Baylis referred calls to Jessica Shepherd-Smith, spokeswoman for Nomura, who confirmed the departure, declining further comment.
At Merrill, Hill is expected to report to Ronan Connolly, responsible for single-stock trading at Merrill in London, who did not return messages left with colleagues. Connolly and Hill previously worked together at JPMorgan.