Two structured finance researchers have departed the Credit Suisse First Boston team in London.
James Crispin, v.p. and lead analyst on the team, has started on the ABS trading and syndicate desk at Merrill Lynch in London as a v.p., reporting to Cyrus Korat, director responsible for ABS/MBS trading. Crispin's position is a new one, according to Dale Lattanzio, managing director responsible for structured credit trading, who said ABS represents a growth area for Merrill Lynch and the firm is expanding the team.
Also, Harry Noutsos, associate at CSFB, has started as an associate in credit structuring at Bank of America in London. He reports to Steve Gandy, European head of global structured finance, who declined comment on developments in the team.
The two departures come shortly after Neil McPherson, managing director and group head of asset-backed and collateralized debt obligation research in New York, left to run the syndicate desk at ABN AMRO this month (BW, 10/11).
The London researchers had reported to McPherson though it's not clear if their departures are related to his. Rod Dubitsky, the new head of structured finance research, referred questions to Gail Lee, global head of structured product research in New York. She did not return calls. Rebecca O'Neill, spokeswoman for the firm in London, stressed the firm remains fully committed to ABS research and is in the process of hiring for the London team.
Meanwhile, back in the London office, Michael Tian, fresh out of university, is holding down the European research fort. He declined comment.
