Media Banker Joins Jordan Edmiston

Roger L. Krakoff, a banker with both old economy and new economy experience, signed on in late May as a managing director at Jordan Edmiston Group Inc., a New York City-based investment bank specializing in publishing, information, and software deals. He wears two hats at Jordan as he has investment banking assignments as well as responsibility for helping to oversee the firm’s venture fund, JEGI Capital. The fund is designed to invest exclusively in early-stage companies that will apply technology to transform the media business. “JEGI Capital is a terrific resource to assist promising growth companies serving the media and information industries,” Krakoff says. Krakoff, 41, had been a managing director at another New York boutique investment bank, Veronis Suhler, where he headed up that firm’s business information and new media group. He did a number of deals for Veronis in the areas of e-commerce, e-content, new media, and interactive services. He says that one reason for leaving Veronis was his desire to work with a venture fund so that he “could participate in the creation of promising tech companies.” Veronis runs a private equity fund but doesn’t have a venture capital arm. Prior to his two-year stint at Veronis, Krakoff earned his new economy battle stripes from 1997 to 1999 when he served as VP of business development and marketing at Webline Communications, an Internet application software company that was acquired by Cisco Systems in 1999. “The fact that I’m coming from the information industry and have worked in an entrepreneurial environment is a big plus for clients. I’ve had a nice mix of exposure to both corporate and startup situations.” Krakoff began his career at International Business Machines Corp., where he worked in finance, planning, and product management. He spent five years at Dun & Bradstreet Inc. in a variety of senior management positions. Jordan’s newest dealmaker has an MBA from Harvard Business School, an MA in law and diplomacy, as well as an undergraduate degree from Tufts University. Looking forward to the development of the information and software industries, Krakoff says he expects to see more integration between software position tools. “As information becomes more commoditized, there will be more database solutions where customers will pay a premium for the information sets that will improve the speed and accuracy of their decisionmaking.” The Jordan executive says he sees an increased role for boutique investment banks in the communications sector. “Firms like Jordan can offer more personalized service. This is especially useful at a time when the larger investment banks are consolidating.” He notes that alliances between smaller investment banks and their bulge bracket competitors will become increasingly common. “We’re looking to work closely with institutions that can offer services that Jordan can’t.” Krakoff cites underwriting and financing – services Jordan doesn’t offer – as possible areas of cooperation. With Wall Street consolidating, Krakoff says that a number of m&a people will leave large firms and take their relationships with them to smaller firms. This will result in the best of both worlds for clients. “At Jordan, we are looking to create networks that will address the needs of our clients, bringing them both personalized service as well as access to a broad range of services.” Adams, Harkness & Hill – This Boston-based investment bank specializing in emerging growth companies has named Gregory B. Brown, M.D., and Russell W. Landon as co-heads of the firm’s investment banking department. Prior to joining Adams, Harkness in 1997, Brown worked in corporate finance at Vector Securities International. Landon was with PaineWebber Inc. before joining Adams, Harkness in 1993. Additionally, the firm has named Jonathan P. Gertler, M.D., as VP of its health care investment banking division. Formerly had been a practicing surgeon, and had three years of experience in venture capital investing in the medical and technology industries. Alterity Partners – Douglas Donohue has joined this boutique investment bank as a managing director. He had been with Goldman, Sachs & Co. Alterity specializes in m&a and private placements in the technology industry. Bear, Stearns & Co. – Jonathan Foster has joined the firm’s merger department as a senior managing director and heads the industrial products and services division. He had been COO and finance chief at ToysRUs.com. Carlyle Group – John Major, the former Prime Minister of Great Britain, has joined this private equity firm as European chairman. He provides counsel and support to senior Carlyle investment professionals. Clifford Chance – Joachim Fleury, formerly a European telecom m&a specialist at this London-based law firm, has relocated to London from Amsterdam. His new job is chairman of the firm’s global communications, media, and technology group. Deutsche Bank – David Jacobs has been appointed managing director and head of global consumer investment banking. He joined the firm from Morgan Stanley, where he most recently served as managing director and co-head of the global consumer group. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Inc. – This investment bank added two new managing directors. Peter Jachym has been named director of insurance and asset management. He specializes in m&a and capital raising for insurance companies and investment management firms. He had been a managing director at Bank of America Securities. Jeffrey Bowman also comes aboard as managing director of asset management. He advises banks and other financial institutions on mergers and strategic issues. He had been an executive director at CIBC World Markets. Morgan Stanley – Mary Anne Citrino has been named global head of the firm’s consumer products investment banking group. Previously she had been co-head of the consumer products group. Putnam Lovell Securities Inc. – Ian Brimecome has relocated from Merrill Lynch & Co. in New York to the London office of Putnam Lovell, an investment bank boutique concentrating on financial services transactions. He is a managing director and global head of the firm’s insurance practice. SG Cowen Securities Corp. – Declan Quirke has joined this financial services firm as head of health care m&a. He is also a managing director. He had been at Robertson Stevens Inc., where he headed up the firm’s East Coast m&a activities. Veronis Suhler – Philip B. Weymouth III has joined this media merchant bank as lead managing director of the firm’s m&a and corporate finance divisions. He had been a partner in the communications group at J.P. Morgan Capital Corp. American Bank Note Holographics Inc. – Adam Scheer was appointed VP of corporate development at this hologram marketing company. His background includes corporate finance and m&a at investment banks Cowen & Co. and Oppenheimer & Co. Equity Oil Co. – David P. Donegan has joined this independent oil and gas exploration company as VP of corporate development. He had been manager of operations and director of corporate development at Inland Resources Inc. Noveon Inc. – Kumar Shah has been named SVP of corporate development. Prior to joining Noveon he had been SVP of corporate development at International Specialty Products. Noveon, formerly BFGoodrich Performance Materials, produces specialty materials. OmniScience Pharmaceuticals Inc. – Duncan Hill has joined this drug discovery company as VP of business development. He had been president of Axure Financial Corp., in which capacity he advised on m&a and other strategic alternatives. Panacea Pharmaceuticals – Lawrence Glass was hired as SVP of corporate development at this biopharmaceuticals company. He had been EVP of corporate development at Virco Lab Inc. Pharmacia Corp. – Richard Van Duyne was named SVP of business development at this pharmaceuticals company. He had been a managing director at Medpointe Capital Partners, a private equity firm. Quanex Corp. – Michael R. Bayles has joined the company as VP of strategic planning and business development, in which capacity he is responsible for m&a, strategic alliances, and licensing agreements. He had been EVP of Helm Financial, a transportation equipment leasing company. Quanex manufactures steel bars and aluminum and formed-metal products. Sovereign Bank – Philip Y. Meyer has joined the bank as VP of m&a in the capital markets group. Previously, he held positions at various financial institutions, including First Pennsylvania Bank, PNC Merchant Bank, Butcher & Singer, and Shearson Lehman Hutton.