Mesirow, an independent, employee-owned financial services firm, added several key new hires across Mesirow Capital Markets, which encompasses capabilities including institutional sales and trading (IS&T) and public finance.
Elizabeth Funk joined the firm as a managing director in the IS&T municipal underwriting group. She will add experience in both competitive and negotiated municipal underwriting, with a special expertise in high-yield bonds, to Mesirow’s underwriting group.
Funk joined Mesirow from Hilltop Securities, where she served as the managing director of underwriting and debt capital markets. Prior to that, she served in senior roles at Citigroup and Stifel, Nicolaus & Co. She is a partner and program mentor for the Municipal Bond Women’s Forum and a national board member for Women in Public Finance, where she co-chairs the mentorship committee. She is also a volunteer mentor at Rock the Street, Wall Street, which strives to bring racial and gender equity to the financial markets and create career pathways for high school girls into the industry.
“I am pleased to join Mesirow as the firm expands its geographic presence and service to clients and prospects,” Funk said. “I was drawn to Mesirow’s financial strength, sophisticated understanding of the municipal market and focus on corporate social responsibility. I look forward to contributing to the firm’s strong momentum.”
Daniel Toboja also recently joined the firm to lead the IS&T high-yield municipal trading desk. He has more than 15 years of experience managing trading desks and trading general and high-yield bonds. Toboja will utilize Mesirow’s credit research and established trading desk to diversify Mesirow’s product offering. Toboja most recently served as the director and head of Midwest trading/pre-paid gas at Citigroup. Mesirow also hired Blake Oslan to enhance its distribution capabilities as a salesman in the municipal department. Oslan will focus on expanding Mesirow’s coverage to different institutional clients, including banks.
“Strategically expanding our team and capabilities is a vital part of our commitment to serving clients,” Jeff Levine, chief operating officer of institutional sales and trading at Mesirow, said. “These seasoned professionals bring specific skills that will enhance our ability to provide high-quality sales and trading solutions. We are excited to welcome them to the team and, in the months ahead, look forward to bringing on additional talent to the firm.”
Mesirow also recently hired several municipal bankers for Mesirow Public Finance, including Chris Sheehan and Jeff Wilke in Maryland, Sam Gruer in New York and Bill Gumbert in Texas, expanding its regional coverage and deepening its expertise in high-yield, derivatives and school district banking.
