Calyon in New York has hired Alan Skandan from Dresdner Kleinwort as a managing director heading equity derivative sales to hedge funds. Skandan joins in a new role for the firm, which will include both flow and structured sales as well as providing leverage to hedge funds. Skandan reports to Ahmed Kachenoura, head of global equity derivatives for the Americas. Kachenoura explained the firm hired Skandan to help build up its hedge fund business, "Calyon is initially a structured product shop and we want to do more in the hedge fund area." He said Calyon already sells to hedge funds and offers leverage services, as well as structuring fund-linked investments, but making hires in this area shows the firm's commitment. He declined to give a figure for number of planned hires.