GoldenTree Asset Management announced that Dean Merritt joined the firm as partner, heading up European restructurings and turnarounds. He is based in GoldenTree’s London office and will be working closely with Ted Lodge, Global Head of Restructurings and Turnarounds.

“We have worked with Dean for years and are very excited to be joining forces with him in Europe,” said Steve Tananbaum, GoldenTree’s managing partner and chief investment officer. “Dean has a notable record of successful European restructurings, an area which is an important part of our distressed investment strategy; he’s highly regarded in Europe for his roles as financial and operational restructuring adviser, chief restructuring officer and board member.”

Most recently Merritt was a partner at London-based specialist restructuring boutique Talbot Hughes McKillop, which he joined in 2004. His most recent restructuring work there included the high-profile assignment of chief restructuring officer of Punch Taverns, one of the UK’s largest leased pub groups, with a portfolio of more than 3,800 pubs.

Previously, he was a partner both in Arthur Andersen’s Restructuring Group and in Ernst & Young’s restructuring team.