Oppenheimer & Co. announced that John Phillips joined the firm as managing director in the Investment Banking Division’s Consumer and Business Services Group. At Oppenheimer, Phillips will continue to focus his coverage on the pet, specialty food and consumer health (over-the-counter and vitamins, minerals & supplements) sectors. With more than 20 years of investment banking experience in the consumer sector, Phillips will add considerably to the continued expansion of Oppenheimer’s investment banking effort. He will be based in Oppenheimer’s New York office at 85 Broad Street and report to Mark Goodman, head of the Consumer and Business Services Group.

Phillips joins Oppenheimer after eight years with BMO Capital Markets’ Food, Consumer & Retail Group. Prior to BMO Capital Markets, Phillips covered the consumer sector for several middle-market investment banks, including PaineWebber, Smith Barney and Oppenheimer.

“We are very excited that John has joined Oppenheimer’s banking team. He brings deep domain knowledge and extensive, long-term relationships to our consumer franchise. His record in the pet sector, for example, includes over a dozen advisory and financing transactions,” said Bruce McCarthy, co-head of Investment Banking and Head of M&A.

“In addition, Phillips brings with him a slate of specialty food and consumer health clients and related transaction experience. He is a proven leader who is well-positioned to deliver a full suite of banking products and services to Oppenheimer’s middle market clients,” said Marc Thompson, co-head of Investment Banking and Head of Technology for Oppenheimer.