Macquarie Group has appointed Perth deal-maker and company director Mark Barnaba as chairman of its Western Australian operations, bolstering its status as one of the top investment banks in WA.
The appointment follows Mr Barnaba’s retirement last year from Azure Capital, of which he was co-founder and co-executive chairman, along with his long-time business partner John Poynton.
He adds more firepower to Macquarie’s WA team, following the bank’s recruitment two years ago of leading corporate adviser Michael Ashforth from Gresham.
Macquarie was ranked as one of the top investment banks in WA – alongside UBS and Hartleys – in WA Business News’ 2011 corporate finance survey, based primarily on its prominence in the M&A market.
Azure and Gresham had been the top M&A advisers in Perth for most of the past decade, but have slipped a notch following the exits of Messrs Barnaba and Ashforth respectively.
Macquarie, which has about 150 staff in WA, said that Mr Barnaba will work across all of its businesses.
“We are very pleased to welcome Mark to Macquarie,” Macquarie Group chief executive Nicholas Moore said in a statement.
“Mark brings considerable industry knowledge and experience to the Macquarie team in WA and his appointment will support the continued build out of our activities in the region.”
Mr Barnaba said "this represents an exciting new chapter in my career”.
“I look forward to working across all of Macquarie’s businesses, from Perth, and to building on the organisation’s already excellent track record of client service.”
Mr Barnaba is also chairman of Western Power and not-for-profit business Edge Employment Solutions and is a non-executive director of listed companies Fortescue Metals Group and Adept Solutions.
He was chair of the coordinating committee of the recent Commonwealth Business Forum, is a former chairman of the West Coast Eagles, and in 2002 was named First Among Equals in WA Business News’ inaugural 40under40 awards.