Kjell Ekdahl, North American head of equity derivatives marketing at BNP Paribas in New York, has accepted a position at Robertson Stephens in San Francisco. A rival equity derivatives official noted that Ekdahl was the most senior member of BNP Paribas' equity derivatives marketing team, so his departure will leave a substantial void in that group, which may adversely affect the firm's ability to attract quality equity derivatives marketers. A spokesman for BNP Paribas confirmed that Ekdahl has left the firm, but declined further comment.
Robertson Stephen's equity derivatives group is relatively small, and tends to focus on client transactions involving hedging or monetizing with collars or pre-paid forwards, according to the rival official. A spokeswoman for Robertson Stephens declined comment. Ekdahl could not be reached for comment.
The move comes just weeks after BNP Paribas hired Sylvie Durham, a partner at Weil, Gotshal & Manges, as head of corporate equity derivative products in North America. At the time of her hire, Durham was expected to report to Ekdahl. She will now report to Vuk Bulajic, head of equity derivative client business in North America, according to the spokesman. BNP Paribas will be replacing Ekdahl, he added. He declined comment on whether it would be filling Ekdahl's position internally or externally.
