Standard Bank hired Greg Gonzalez, an emerging markets bond trader from WestLB. Gonzalez started last Monday. The position is a newly created one for the New York-based branch office of the South African bank. Gonzalez says he will trade Latin American corporate bonds, as he did at WestLB, plus some more exotic sovereign bonds from Colombia, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Uruguay. The broadening of his trading experience is one of the reasons for his move, he explains.
Gonzalez will report to Kiernan Donnelly, managing director who heads the emerging markets group. At WestLB, Gonzalez reported to Mike East, managing director in London. Calls to East seeking comment on the eventual replacement of Gonzalez, were not returned by press time.