Raymond James is expanding its Financial Services Investment Banking practice with the addition of Jonathan Knauss as managing director.

A veteran of the middle market, Knauss will serve clients in the specialty finance sector.

“Jonathan is a highly skilled and experienced banker with an impressive track record of transactions across the financial services industry,” said Jim Bunn, senior managing director and head of Investment Banking at Raymond James. “We’re continuing to see increased levels of deal activity in financial services and Jonathan’s expertise in the sector gives us additional capabilities to grow our advisory and underwriting services in this space.”

Knauss is based in Chicago and joins Raymond James from Hovde Group where he was head of the diversified financials group. He previously headed the specialty finance investment banking practice at BMO Capital Markets and began his investment banking career at A.G. Edwards.

“This is a first-class team of professionals who are truly committed to the clients’ best interest,” Knauss said. “The growth orientation of Raymond James is especially well suited to the dynamic specialty finance sector in which I focus. There’s a lot of opportunity in the sector now and we don’t see that slowing anytime soon, so I expect to be busy.”