Merrill Lynch adds five new hires to its India practice

DSP Merrill Lynch (ôDSPMLö) continues to consolidate its India presence, announcing on Tuesday (July 18) the appointment of five key personnel in its global markets and investment banking business.

"In a competitive financial advisory and investment banking business attracting talent is key," says Amit Chandra, managing director at DSPML. "The new hires will further strengthen the organisational configuration and reinforces Merrill Lynch's commitment to India."

DSPML is broadening its debt origination coverage to other countries in the Indian sub-continent and has hired Rakesh Singh as director and head of India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, Debt Capital Markets. Singh was earlier director and head of debt capital markets at Standard Chartered Bank.

Pankaj Kalra has been appointed director and head of oil & gas and financial sponsor coverage. He is moving from London where he headed the Merrill Lynch private investment bank. Kalra previously also worked with Merrill Lynch in the Asia Pacific, as well as with National Australia Bank.

Shailesh Shirali will go on board as director within the global asset-based finance, securitisation and principal investments group, while Shyamal Karmarkar will join the same group as a vice president. DSPML has poached both Shirali and Karmarkar from Rabobank Finance.

Finally, Vidyadhar Ginde joins as senior director in research to oversee the oil & gas and petrochemicals sector. Ginde moves to DSPML after a decade in research across sectors, most recently with HSBC.

All the positions are based in Mumbai.