B. Riley FBR promoted James (Jimmy) Baker to head of Capital Markets. Baker will continue to serve as executive vice president of Brokerage and take on an expanded role overseeing the firm’s extensive capital markets platform.
B. Riley FBR’s capital markets platform consists of a diverse suite of offerings including IPOs, follow-ons, SPACs, preferred equity and equity-linked securities, baby bonds, high yield debt, and ATMs, as well as private capital solutions. Baker will continue to advise issuer clients on creative capital solutions best matched for the current state of the capital markets and captain selling efforts for bookrun transactions.
Additionally, he will seek to align resources across other B. Riley Financial business units to maximize value add to clients, promoting disciplined use of the firm’s capabilities and balance sheet to ensure the best possible outcome for clients and shareholders.
“Jimmy has played a critical role in our firm’s growth and the value we deliver to clients,” said Andy Moore, CEO of B. Riley FBR. “Jimmy applies an investor’s approach to identifying, evaluating, and shaping capital markets opportunities. He’s become a trusted resource to many of our most valued clients through his unwavering ethical integrity and diligent commitment to realizing their objectives. The execution of our capital markets solutions consists of a dynamic process that requires an equally dynamic leader. With Jimmy’s continued leadership we expect to build on our momentum as the preeminent small and mid-cap focused investment bank.”
Among other responsibilities at B. Riley Baker has been responsible for aligning the firm’s equity research coverage, integrating and expanding institutional sales distribution, and maintaining the firm’s capital markets integrity. He was instrumental in the transformative combination of B. Riley and FBR Capital Markets to form B. Riley FBR. He has become a recognized leader in capital formation, orchestrating many complex and creative capital raises on behalf of companies seeking to raise public or pre-IPO capital.
Baker joined legacy B. Riley in 2010 as a member of the Equity Research team, previously serving as managing director and associate director of research, during which time he was consistently recognized by independent third parties for the performance of his investment recommendations. Prior to joining the firm, he was with small cap-focused asset manager, Kennedy Capital Management, and previously consulted for the multi-strategy hedge fund, Lionhart. Baker is based in the firm’s Arlington, VA office.
