Anthony Davies joins Barclays to focus on equity sales

Barclays Capital has hired Anthony Davies as a managing director and head of Asia generalist sales for non-Japan Asia. Davies was most recently head of equity distribution for the Pacific Rim at Merrill Lynch.

At Barclays Capital, the investment banking division of Barclays Bank, Davies will be responsible for growing the firm's equity business with clients in the region. He will be based in Hong Kong and will report to three different people: Richard Cunningham, who is global head of equities distribution; David Campbell, head of North Asia distribution; and Nicholas Moreira, head of equities for Asia-Pacific.

In a written comment, which echoes almost word-for-word the statements made in connection with other new hires in recent months, Campbell noted that the hire of Davies is part of Barclays' build-out of its equity platform in Asia-Pacific and said this build-out is one of the firm's "key priorities" in the region this year. He added that Davies brings with him an "excellent track record" when it comes to building businesses and delivering for clients.

Barclays has put renewed focus on equities and M&A after its takeover of Lehman Brothers' US business in 2008. In Asia, the build-out has so far been organic, but the bank has been one of the more active hirers in the region throughout the downturn, adding several high-profile names to its roster, including Morgan Stanley veteran Matthew Ginsburg who joined Barclays in September last year as head of investment banking for Asia-Pacific.

Aside from his most recent job at Merrill, Davies has also held a number of other positions at the US bank, including head of Asia-Pacific cash equity distribution, and head of Asia-Pacific and global emerging markets equity distribution based in London.