Global Hunter Securities Announces Major Expansion of Equity Sales Team with Hiring of Three Industry Veterans, Led by John P. Walsh

Addition of more than a half-century of markets experience solidifies GHS’ position as a dominant force in Energy equity sales and trading

NEW ORLEANS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--International investment bank Global Hunter Securities today announced a major expansion of its equity sales team, with the addition of John P. Walsh, John A. Hurd and Paul J. Coppola, all of whom joined from Madison Williams. Together, they bring more than a half-century of equity sales and marketing experience to GHS.

“John Walsh, John Hurd and Paul Coppola are an integrated team, which brings us further depth and capabilities to our existing sales operations”

“John Walsh, John Hurd and Paul Coppola are an integrated team, which brings us further depth and capabilities to our existing sales operations,” said Edward R. Lainfiesta, president of GHS and head of the firm’s equity sales operation. “With the addition of their knowledge and relationships to our already robust distribution platform, we have become a dominant force in equity sales in the Energy sector.”

The team is led by Mr. Walsh, a 25-year veteran of Wall Street who has spent his entire career focused on the energy sector. He has held senior positions at some of the most highly regarded firms in the industry, including Madison Williams, where he was a managing director, Pritchard Capital Partners, UBS, Citi/Smith Barney and Prudential Securities. He entered the financial services sector after working in the Energy sector as a geologist with a Louisiana-based exploration firm. Mr. Walsh will be based in the GHS New York office.

Mr. Hurd was also a managing director at Madison Williams. He joins GHS in New Orleans, having spent more than 14 years in sales and capital markets at a variety of firms that were focused on the Energy sector. In addition to Madison Williams, he previously held senior positions at Pritchard Capital Partners, Sterne Agee and Leach, and Hibernia Southcoast Capital.

Mr. Coppola was also a managing director at Madison Williams before joining GHS. His resume is highlighted by both buy-side and sell-side experience, including more than a decade at Morgan Stanley, where he rose through the ranks as an analyst and portfolio manager in the U.S. and Europe, all focused on the Energy Sector. Mr. Coppola previously served as an officer in the United States Army. He will be based in the GHS Houston office.

About Global Hunter Securities

Global Hunter Securities, LLC (GHS) is a full-service investment bank focusing on the Energy, International, Healthcare, and Metals & Mining sectors. In the first half of 2011, the firm completed 25 transactions totaling some $3.1 billion in aggregate value. GHS provides insightful research, innovative capital raising and financial advisory and restructuring services supported by a sales and trading staff to clients around the world from offices in New Orleans, Boston, Boulder, Calgary, Chicago, Fort Worth, Houston, New York, Newport Beach and San Francisco plus an affiliate in Beijing. For more information about GHS, please visit http://www.ghsecurities.com.