MetLife Investments has hired Bob Halgren as a telecom analyst covering both high-yield and high-grade credits, according to analysts with knowledge of the situation. Halgren fills a position that had been open since Saba Hekmat went to OppenheimerFunds in November. He could not be reached, and John Wand, head of credit research at MetLife, declined comment. Halgren worked for some 15 years at Prudential Financial both in New Jersey and in London, according to one former colleague.
Halgren left the firm roughly a month ago, though the reason for his departure could not be determined. A call to Rich Greenwood, who oversees credit research at Prudential, was not returned.