Jefferies hires Hong Kong directors

Investment bank Jefferies has strengthened its Asian operations following the hiring of six managing directors.

Reuters reports that Lydia Leung has become the financial services provider's head of Hong Kong and China equity sales, with James Young and David Welch made head of regional sales and regional sales trader respectively.

Stephen Nichols is also among those taking up investment banking jobs in Hong Kong for Jefferies as he becomes head of Asia trading at the company.

Adam Putterill has been appointed head of Hong Kong and China sales trading, with Paul Krake becoming head of hedge fund sales for the bank.

All of the directors are to be based at the organisation's Hong Kong office, the news provider states.

News of the appointments comes after Jefferies was last month named as one of the most admired companies in the world for 2011 in a poll carried out by Fortune magazine.

Jefferies chairman and chief executive Richard B Handler claimed the award is "entirely due to the hard work, dedication, commitment, competence and passion" of the firm's staff.