NEW YORK, May 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., a leading global financial services firm, announced today that it is strengthening its international equities and fixed income sales and trading business with several key appointments. Diego Baez, formerly of Terra Futuros, has been named Managing Director of Latin American Equities; George Medina, formerly of S.J. Levinson & Sons, has been named Director of Latin American Sales; Jose Berges, formerly of Interacciones Casa de Bolsa, has been named Director of Latin American Sales; and Mauro Orefice, formerly of Interbolsa Securities, joins as Director of Brazilian Sales. These individuals will report to Jarred Kessler, Global Head of Equities. Mr. Baez and Mr. Medina will be located in New York; Mr. Berges and Mr. Orefice will be located in Miami.

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In addition, Francisco Romero, formerly of Macquarie Capital, has been named Managing Director of Emerging Markets, joining Charles Cortellesi and Erich Bauer-Rowe, recently named co-heads of the Debt Capital Markets’ Emerging Markets Division.

Commenting on today’s announcement, Shawn P. Matthews, Chief Executive Officer of Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. said, “Cantor continues to invest in building our global sales and trading team broadening the scope and depth of the firm’s business internationally and focusing on key markets that are experiencing measurable growth. These additions to our international equities and fixed income sales and trading team along with the strengthening of our Emerging Markets Group, enables us to serve our customers with an even greater array of talented market professionals. We intend to continue to aggressively expand our product offering across the market spectrum.”

Equities and Fixed Income Sales and Trading:
Mauro Orefice, Director of Brazilian Sales, most recently was Head of Sales and Trading for Interbolsa Securities where he participated in setting up the institutional trading desk covering clients from the U.S., Europe and Latin America. Previously, he served as a partner with Bulltick LLC and as a trader at Banco Itau S.A on the equities, local fixed income and money market desks.

George Medina, Director of Latin American Sales, previously was Managing Director with S.J. Levinson & Sons LLC where he managed a portfolio of sales teams and accounts. Prior to that, he served as Senior Vice President of North America Portfolio Trading Sales for CA Cheuvreaux and as Executive Director and Head of Program/Algorithmic Sales at CIBC World Markets.

Jose Berges, Director of Latin American Sales, was Director at Interacciones Casa de Bolsa, S.A. where he developed the company’s international institutional client base. Prior to that, he served as Senior Vice President at Samuel Ramirez & Co., Managing Director at Gardner Rich & Co. and Director at Aon Corporation where he developed the investor base in the U.S. and Latin America.

Diego Baez, Managing Director of Latin American Equities, will focus on building the team and form strategic joint ventures and DMA Connectivity in Latin American markets. Mr. Baez was the Head of Electronic Trading at Terra Futuros where he helped build the company’s electronic trading business. Earlier, he served as COO and CEO of Marco Polo Latin America, a global electronic trading solutions provider where he managed technology, trading and operations and as Vice President at Lava Trading, a Citi company, responsible for the company’s multi-broker trading solutions.

Emerging Markets:
Francisco Romero, Managing Director in the Debt Capital Markets’ Emerging Markets Division, previously was Associate Director at Macquarie Capital Inc. in the Emerging Markets Trading Division focused on Central American and Caribbean Credits and a Vice President in the Latin American Sales Team at Refco Securities.

About Cantor Fitzgerald

Cantor Fitzgerald, a premier global financial services firm at the forefront of financial and technological innovation, has been a proven and resilient leader for over 65 years. Cantor is a preeminent capital markets investment bank serving more than 5,000 institutional clients around the world in institutional equity and fixed income sales and trading and  is recognized for its strengths serving the middle market with investment and merchant banking services, prime brokerage, and commercial real estate financing. Cantor Fitzgerald also is a leader in new businesses and marketplaces including gaming technology, e-commerce, and other ventures. Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. is one of 21 primary dealers authorized to trade U.S. government securities with The Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Cantor Fitzgerald’s 1,400 employees serve clients through 30 locations, including major financial centers around the world in the Americas, Europe, Asia/Pacific, and the Middle East. For more information please visit www.cantor.com.

Note to Editors: Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P. is the parent entity of Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.

SOURCE Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.