Dimitar Karaivanov joined Lazard‘ Middle Market Advisory practice as a managing director in the Financial Institutions Group. He will be based in New York.

Karaivanov’s focus and expertise is in advising depository and specialty finance companies, an integral part of the overall Financial Institutions Group effort. The move reflects the Middle Market Advisory practice’s strategy of developing expertise in defined sector niches.

Before joining Lazard, Karaivanov was a managing director in FIG Investment Banking at RBC Capital Markets, where he counseled financial services clients on more than 30 M&A transactions valued at over $20 billion. He also held positions in FIG Investment Banking at Janney Montgomery Scott and Bear Stearns.