Public finance banking firm Raymond James is continuing a California expansion with a new hire and new office in San Diego County.
Leslie Bloom, who was hired as a senior vice president, came over from Hilltop Securities as a senior vice president. She will open the firm’s first public finance office in Solano Beach and its fourth in the state.
“I’m excited to work with Raymond James’ team of experienced investment bankers — to build the ‘go-to’ local government franchise in California,” said Bloom.
Bloom has 11 years of experience in municipal finance. She will be responsible for covering cities and special districts in Southern California and provide support for general municipalities and school districts throughout the state.
“Leslie is widely respected for her quantitative, analytical and transaction execution skills, work ethic, and understanding of the California local government landscape,” said Rob Larkins, the firm's western region manager for public finance. He worked with Bloom for three years at Wedbush Securities. “We are excited to add Leslie to our growing local government practice.”
Bloom has worked on more than 200 senior managed underwriting and private placement financings totaling $3 billion for cities, counties, redevelopment agencies, special districts and the state of California. She is a member of the California Society of Municipal Finance Officers and the San Diego Chapter of Women in Public Finance.
Since 2011, Raymond James has made a series of strategic hires to assemble a team of professionals and market experts to serve the entire California market, according to the firm. It covers the muni credit gamut with bankers experienced in working with the public universities, cities, counties, school districts, special districts and airports.
The San Diego County hire doesn’t end its expansion plans in the state. The firm, consistently ranked as a top 10 underwriter of muni bonds by Thomson Reuters, plans to hire more California bankers.
Based in Florida, the firm has more than 170 people working in public finance in 30 locations nationwide.
