KNG Securities has appointed former Credit Suisse illiquid bond specialist Omar Ghalloudi as head of emerging market (EM) trading.
Corporate and distressed bond ‘expert’ Ghalloudi will leverage his experience within investment banks such as Morgan Stanley and Bank of America. Ghalloudi also had a two-and-a-half-year stint at Jefferies as managing director. He joins KNG from Credit Suisse, where he was a corporate hybrids bond trader.
On his new role, Ghalloudi said: “Today’s dynamic and volatile markets, characterised by evolving rate conditions and increasing illiquidity in EM bonds, require a unique approach.
“I am excited to join KNG’s fast growing team, a group of seasoned professionals with a wealth of experience. Our depth of knowledge and expertise positions us well with our clients to help them address the challenges of these dislocated markets. I look forward to contributing to KNG’s continued growth and success.”
As head of EM trading, Ghalloudi will trade both corporate and sovereign debt. His geographic focus will be Latin America and Africa.
Andrea Podesta, KNG managing partner, said: “I have known Omar for 20 years, he brings in extensive experience in trading illiquid assets and in supporting clients’ business: he is the perfect trader to lead our growth in such key areas for us as Latin America and Africa, particularly in this moment of strong expansion for the firm.”
Supporting this expansion has seen KNG undertake nine recent key hires in their emerging market, distressed debt and equities desks over the last six months. These include: Fernando Ortega – former VTB Capital global head of fixed income sales, appointed as KNG Securities’ new head of emerging market sales; Gary Ballard – former VTB Capital, Goldman Sachs capital markets veteran appointed as KNG Securities’ head of equities; Andrew Lee – former Goldman Sachs asset management executive director, appointed as KNG Securities’ new high-yield and distressed credit analyst; Igor Nartov – former VTB Capital CIS specialist, appointed as emerging market debt senior adviser; Cagri Kutman – former Morgan Stanley vice president within cross asset sales, appointed as senior fixed income sales within its credit trading team; Christian Laloe – former BTG Pactual Brazilian debt expert, appointed as head of debt capital and special situations in Latin America; and Halila Mazin – former Barclays Capital credit sales specialist, appointed to fixed income sales within KNG’s credit trading team.
© Markets Media Europe 2023
