Keith Jacobson, managing director and former head of the recently disbanded strategic solutions group (SSG) at Merrill Lynch in New York, has left the firm. After SSG, a specialized group responsible for structuring and marketing derivatives-based transactions, was merged into Merrill's derivatives sales division last November, Jacobson's role was eliminated (DW, 11/10). Jacobson quit late last month after failing to find a suitable role within the firm, explained one Merrill insider.
Michael DuVally, a Merrill spokesman in New York, declined comment. Jacobson said he has not made a definite decision regarding his future, noting that he "has several irons in the fire." He declined comment on his reasons for leaving Merrill.
Jacobson was a Merrill veteran, having worked in several different positions at the firm over a 12-year period, noted one official. Before heading up SSG, Jacobson had worked as chief operating officer as well as having held senior positions in foreign exchange and commodity derivatives.
