Ramirez Hires B of A’s Sobel to Head Public Finance

Samuel A. Ramirez & Co. has hired three new municipal professionals, including new head of public finance Ted Sobel, executives said yesterday.

Sobel, who starts work today, joins the firm from Banc of America Securities LLC and will report directly to Daniel Keating, chief operating officer of public finance, sales, and trading. Ramirez also hired Rick Tilghman from Barclays PLC as a managing director in its New York office and Connor Leddy as an associate in its Los Angeles office.

Ramirez has added about 13 people to its public finance department over the past six months, Keating said. However, five members of the department previously with the firm have left it, including managing director Thomas Meade, he said.

“With all the mergers going on, there’s still a number of opportunities for our firm and we will be looking to expand,” Keating said.

Sobel has experience with utilities, water and sewer, and general infrastructure deals, and has also worked with Puerto Rico. Tilghman, who has also worked at Public Resource Advisory Group and First Boston, has worked with New York City.

Like many firms, Ramirez sees the cuts at larger investment banks as an opportunity to hire new talent. It continues to interview potential new hires as it decides where it would like to add staff.

“There are some very, very talented people that will fit our needs here,” said firm founder and president Samuel A. Ramirez. “We’re certainly looking to bring people in that will add value.”

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