Wells Fargo expands M&A group; appoints former Credit Suisse M&A chair

The Investment Banking and Capital Markets Group (IBCM) of Wells Fargo has appointed David DeNunzio as its head of the global mergers and acquisitions (M&A) group.

DeNunzio will join Sam Farnham, an IBCM veteran and head of M&A for the Americas, and together they will lead the advisory business, reporting to Rob Engel, head of the IBCM. DeNunzio will be based in New York, with Farnham based in Charlotte.

Prior to Wells Fargo, DeNunzio was global chairman of Credit Suisse’s M&A group, where he was employed for the last 27 years.

“We have seen tremendous growth in our M&A business as clients increasingly seek strategic advice to enhance the value of their businesses,” said Engel.

“Our recent successes have included advising Verizon in its purchase of Fleetmatics and Telogis, TransCanada on its acquisition of Columbia Pipeline Group and Krispy Kreme on its sale to JAB Beech. We will look to leverage David and Sam’s expertise and leadership to build and deepen client relationships.

“David brings with him depth of experience that spans 35 years in investment banking and all aspects of financial advisory work.
Coupled with Sam’s breadth of knowledge across the Wells Fargo platform and the domestic and North American M&A markets, we can bring another level of advisory solutions and intellectual capital to our clients, while growing our M&A business in a thoughtful and disciplined manner.”

DeNunzio has extensive experience in financial advisory services, including divestitures, buyer advisory services, mergers, recapitalisations, and takeover defense. He was also senior vice president at Kidder, Peabody & Co.

Farnham has extensive experience in M&A with an expertise in the consumer and retail sector.

He most recently served as the head of Middle Market Investment Banking Group, where he led the origination and execution efforts for middle market companies and financial sponsors, providing strategic advice and capital markets services.

In addition to DeNunzio and Farnham’s appointments, Kristin Lesher has been promoted to lead the Middle Market Investment Banking Group, the position formerly held by Farnham.

Prior to this new role, Lesher led the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region for the Middle Market Investment Banking group.

Lesher has had nearly a 20-year career at Wells Fargo Securities and its predecessor firms, originating and executing a broad range of M&A transactions including buy-side, sell-side and joint venture assignments, as well as equity and debt financings.