Morgan Stanley has hired Steve Bleier as its lead high-yield chemical analyst based in New York. It has also brought Bala Ramakrishnan over from London to cover basic industries.
Chemicals had been followed by Chris Miller, who joined UBS Warburg about two months ago. Morgan Stanley is still looking for someone to cover high-yield energy, which had also been Miller's responsibility. Bleier moves over from Goldman Sachs, where he was a junior high-yield analyst, reporting to Philip Birbara, the lead analyst at Goldman. Birbara declined to comment on a possible replacement.
Ramakrishnan fills a spot that had been open since the departure of Maureen D'Alleva, for Angelo, Gordon & Co. earlier in the year (BW, 2/9). Morgan Stanley reportedly made another high-yield research hire in London, but that could not be confirmed. Bill Reiland, head of North American credit research at Morgan Stanley, declined comment. Ramakrishnan could not be reached. A call to Bleier was not returned.