Raymond James has tapped Chris Harrison, a veteran salesman, as a senior v.p. heading up its high-yield sales effort in Red Bank, N.J. Harrison has at least 15 years of experience selling at pioneering junk bond firms including Drexel Burnham Lambert, Kidder Peabody andBear Stearns. Further hires will likely follow, says a person familiar with the situation, as Raymond James looks to make up for senior departures: Mark Lichtman, who ran the trading desk in Red Bank, left earlier this year to join BB&T Capital Markets (BW, 6/1). Harrison, who starts today, declined comment when reached on his mobile phone. The name of the current high-yield sales head could not be determined.Tammy Eitel, a firm spokeswoman based in St. Petersburg, Florida, confirmed the hire of Harrison, but declined further comment.
Harrison joins from BNY Capital Markets in Roseland, N.J., where he was a v.p., and had spent some five years. Greg Sullivan, head of high-yield sales at BNY, says he will likely start interviewing for a replacement next month.