David DeNunzio has joined Wells Fargo Securities as head of the Global M&A group. He and Sam Farnham, an IBCM veteran and head of M&A for the Americas, will lead the advisory business, reporting to Rob Engel, head of the Investment Banking & Capital Markets Group. DeNunzio is based in New York with Farnham based in Charlotte.

“We have seen tremendous growth in our M&A business as clients increasingly seek strategic advice to enhance the value of their businesses,” said Engel. “Our recent successes have included advising Verizon in its purchase of Fleetmatics and Telogis, TransCanada on its acquisition of Columbia Pipeline Group and Krispy Kreme on its sale to JAB Beech. We will look to leverage David and Sam’s expertise and leadership to build and deepen client relationships.”

Prior to joining Wells Fargo, DeNunzio was global chairman of Credit Suisse’s Mergers & Acquisitions group, where he was employed for the last 27 years. He has extensive experience in all aspects of financial advisory services, including divestitures, buyer advisory services, mergers, recapitalizations, and takeover defense. He was also a senior vice president at Kidder, Peabody & Co.

A 20-year veteran of Wells Fargo and its predecessor companies, Farnham has extensive experience in M&A with an expertise in the consumer and retail sector. He most recently served as the head of Middle Market Investment Banking Group, where he led the origination and execution efforts for middle market companies and financial sponsors, providing strategic advice and capital markets services. Previously, he spent 13 years in the M&A group, serving in senior roles such as head of Consumer and Retail M&A.

In addition to DeNunzio and Farnham’s appointments, Kristin Lesher has been promoted to lead the Middle Market Investment Banking Group, the position formerly held by Farnham. In her prior role, she led the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region for the Middle Market Investment Banking group. Lesher has had nearly a 20-year career at Wells Fargo Securities and its predecessor firms, originating and executing a broad range of M&A transactions including buy-side, sell-side and joint venture assignments as well as equity and debt financings.