Merriman Implements West Coast Institutional Presence.(News)

Byline: Michael Giardina

Merriman Capital, Inc. has hired Gleacher & Company's former head of west coast institutional equities Paul Kent to expand its "institutional investor footprint," an announcement explained today.

Kent, who joins from the San Francisco-based firm, will take over as head of capital markets at the Merriman Holdings' wholly owned subsidiary. With more than 20 years of experience under his belt, Kent will focus on bolstering its institutional reach as well as "driving the firm's commission revenues."

Alex Seiler, CEO of Merriman Capital, explained in the March 21 press release that Kent's "many years of equity sales and trading experience, combined with his deep institutional investor contacts, will allow" the firm "to rapidly expand [its] capital markets capabilities and sales and trading revenues."

Prior to the New York-based position at Gleacher & Co., Kent held a multitude of senior sales, trader and regional sales roles at Jefferies & Co. in Los Angeles, New York, and "was responsible for opening [the firm's] San Francisco office." Additionally, Kent assisted in the opening of Pali Capital's Bay Area location where he served as a managing director and head of San Francisco equity sales and trading, the statement said.

Presently, Merriman focuses its efforts on "fast-growing companies and the institutions that invest in them." It provides investment banking, equity research, institutional services and corporate and venture services with a specialization in "technology, telecom, consumer, media and internet and cleantech infrastructure."

As of press time, inquires placed to Gleacher & Co. seeking comment on the Kent departure remained unreturned.