LOS ANGELES — KeyBanc Capital Markets has hired Zachary Kau to work as a managing director in the San Francisco office heading the healthcare finance business segment in its Public Finance Group.
Kau will be responsible for both the management and business development operations in that sector for KeyBanc, the corporate and investment banking arm of Cleveland-based KeyCorp.
He will report to Derek Chauvette, executive vice president and head of KeyBanc Capital Markets Public Sector and Public Finance Groups.
"We are very focused on the healthcare business and Zach brings a proven track record of managing client relationships and executing financial transactions on behalf of healthcare institutions," Chauvette said.
Kau has more than 13 years of healthcare investment banking and mortgage banking experience. Prior to joining KeyBanc, Kau was a director in Bank of America Merrill Lynch's Healthcare Public Finance Group. His responsibilities included marketing, structuring and executing transactions for not-for-profit hospital clients, including FHA-insured transactions for hospitals. Kau earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in finance from the University of Washington. He holds Series 7, 53 & 63 license designations.
KeyBanc officials say they have focused on adding people to its public finance group over the past 18 months. It has hired 10 people in senior positions across the country, growing to 25 people focused on that sector.
Chauvette said that includes growing both its direct lending and underwriting business.
"We're excited for Zach to share his knowledge as head of our Healthcare Finance business segment, as we continue to build out our team, expand upon our public market funding capabilities and leverage our capital markets platform," Chauvette said.
Adding the position in San Francisco had more to do with the qualities Kau brings to the job than a particular focus on growing business on the West Coast, Chauvette said. Kau's team includes people located in the head office in Cleveland and in New York.
"We have healthcare relationships. We are just building out the public finance side," Chauvette said. "Zach will be able to leverage the full spectrum in the capital markets group and also bring his rolodex with him."
The Capital Markets Group has roughly 600 employees.
KeyCorp had assets of approximately $91.8 billion as of June 30, 2014. KeyCorp provides commercial banking services to individuals and small businesses in 12 states under the name of KeyBank N.A.
KeyCorp also provides a broad range of corporate and investment banking products.
