Emerging markets investment bank Renaissance Capital has started building its Asia research team, hiring three Hong Kong-based analysts with significant sector experience.
The boutique firm is initially focusing on resources research. Matthew Whittall has been appointed head of Asian metals and mining research, effective June 1. Whittall joins Renaissance from UBS where he ran specialist resource sales. Previously he worked in the mining team at CLSA in Hong Kong where he headed up Australian coverage.
Leavitt Pope has joined Renaissance Capital as a metals and mining analyst. Prior to that, he worked at CLSA in Hong Kong. Together, Pope and Whittall will provide coverage across Asia, including Mongolia, Indonesia and Australia, integrating the firm’s coverage into Renaissance Capital’s global metals and mining team.
Jenny Wong has joined Renaissance Capital as an oil and gas analyst, covering Asian oil and gas and other energy opportunities. Previously Wong worked in Credit Suisse’s Australian energy team for four years. At Renaissance Capital, her position is part of the firm’s build-out of its global oil and gas team.
“The expansion of the Renaissance Capital research franchise to Asia adds depth and breadth to our research product and gives us a platform to cover important new geographies,” said David Nangle, head of equity research at Renaissance Capital. “Our research perch in Hong Kong, which also allows us to bridge time zones between our markets, is yet another building block in our strategy to facilitate the increase of capital flows between emerging markets.”
Since it opened its office in Hong Kong in June last year, Renaissance has grown into a sector-focused business with 26 people on the ground in the region that cover sales, sales trading, research and investment banking. It has also added an office in Beijing. In April, we reported that Renaissance Capital had appointed former Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch banker Sheldon Trainor as chairman of its Asia business.
