ETF Securities Marketing has expanded its U.S. sales team with the hiring of Josef Valdman and Justin Levantino.
Valdman is now vice president of sales, based in New York. He will serve wirehouses and registered investment advisors in the Northeast. He comes to ETF Securities from Foreside Fund Services, where he provided third-party sales and marketing services to startup asset managers. Before that, he was a member of the high-net-worth wealth management team at Morgan Stanley.
Levantino is now vice president of sales, based in Houston. He will cover the South Central region. Previously, he was a regional vice president covering the Pacific Northwest for Invesco, responsible for cultivating relationships and building brand awareness. Before that, he was a Morgan Stanley financial adviser.
"We are delighted Josef Valdman and Justin Levantino have joined the firm," said William Rhind, head of sales and marketing at ETF Securities Marketing. "Their experience will be invaluable as we expand ETF Securities sales coverage in two key exchange-traded product markets."
Grefenstette Becomes Federated Senior Manager
Federated Investors has appointed James E. Grefenstette senior portfolio manager of the Federated Capital Appreciation Fund and head of the core/growth equity management team.
Grefenstette currently manages the Federated Mid Cap Growth Strategies Fund and takes the place of Carol R. Miller, who is no longer with the company. Grefenstette will work alongside Federated Capital Appreciation Fund Portfolio Manager Dean Kartsonas.
Before re-joining Federated in 2009, Grefenstette was co-founder and managing partner of Blazer Capital Management.
Earlier, the 20-year veteran of the investment management industry was with Federated from 1994 to 2006 as the manager of the Federated Mid Cap Growth Strategies Fund.
"With his extensive experience in investment research and analysis, Jim has become an integral member of our team since rejoining Federated more than a year ago," said Stephen F. Auth, Federated's chief investment officer for global equity and asset allocation. "We are confident that his skills will help guide the fund to pursuing competitive returns."
UBS Hires Three-Member Morgan Stanley Team
UBS Wealth Management Americas has hired a three-adviser Morgan Stanley Smith Barney team to its San Diego, Calif., office. The team members include Ken Abady, Brad Benter and Steve DeMatteo, who operated under the name Pacific Point Group. The three advisers joining Morgan Stanley in June 2009 from Citigroup Global Markets. The hires come as UBS has steadily added to its U.S. adviser ranks in recent months, having most recently announced the addition of Henry Wagner to its San Francisco office from Sterne, Agee & Leach.
McCabe Named President Of Eaton Vance Investment
Eaton Vance has selected David C. McCabe to succeed G. West "Westy" Saltonstall as president of Eaton Vance Investment Counsel, effective Nov. 1. After that date, Saltonstall will serve as president emeritus.
McCabe joined Eaton Vance as an investment counselor in December 2005, upon its acquisition of Voyageur Asset Management, of which he was president. Before that, he managed client portfolios as Cowen & Co.
"Eaton Vance Investment Counsel is fortunate to have a person of Dave's experience and capabilities to step into Westy's shoes as he transitions to retirement," said Thomas E. Faust, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of Eaton Vance. "I am confident that under Dave's leadership, Eaton Vance Investment Counsel can continue to serve clients with distinction and further build its position in the wealth management marketplace."
During Saltonstall's presidency over Eaton Vance from 2004 to 2011, the firm expanded the breadth of its service offerings, increased the number of investment counselors from eight to 18 and grew client assets under management from $900 million to $4.5 billion.
Ferrante, Perry Join Lenox Advisors as VPs
Paul D. Ferrante, senior vice president, and Jonathan Perry, vice president, have joined wealth management firm Lenox Advisors in its New York office. Both were previously with Northwestern Mutual Financial Network.
Ferrante is responsible for both individual and corporate clients of the firm. He was with Northwestern for 10 years as a forum member.
Perry is responsible for both corporate and high-net-worth clients, as well as working with corporate clients in developing employee benefits strategies and executive carve-out programs. He was with Northwestern for four years.
Mohamadi Becomes VP at U.S. Bancorp Fund Svcs.
Michael Mohamadi has joined U.S. Bancorp Fund Services as vice president, in charge of overseeing East coast operations of its alternative investment products division, serving private investment products such as hedge funds, offshore funds and distressed assets.
A 15-year veteran of the financial services industry, Mohamadi spent the past 11 years with Goldman Sachs Administration Services, where he managed the fund accounting group in New Jersey. He has also worked at Merrill Lynch, Deutsche Bank and Ernst & Young.
