ABN expands regional TMT team

ABN AMRO has initiated a sizable restructuring of its telecom, media and technology (TMT) client sector by announcing four key appointments in the region. Effective immediately, the new appointees will report to Neil Galloway, managing director, head of Asian telecoms.

The most senior appointment to the TMT team is Tri Pham, who will be based in Hong Kong. Pham joins ABN AMRO as executive director, Asian telecoms and will be responsible for client relationships on South East Asia, focusing particularly on the Singapore and Indonesia markets. ABN Amro poaches Pham from Merrill Lynch's Singapore branch where he was a director for nine years in its South East Asian telecoms department.

Relocating to Hong Kong with Pham is Billy Goquingco, director, Asian telecoms and media. Goquingco moves from ABN's Manila branch where he spent the past four years as a relationship banker covering the TMT sector. In his new role, Goquingco will continue to have relationships with similar companies in the Philippines while also assuming regional responsibility for inbound multinational telecom and media clients.

The freshly promoted Vijay Chopra will remain in ABN's Singapore office as executive director, head of South Asia and Middle East TMT. In addition to joining its Indian Coverage Management Committee, Chopra takes the principal position for developing ABN's TMT franchise in South Asia. He will also pilot TMT development into selected new markets across South Asia and the Middle East.

Moving across the Pacific from ABN's technology banking team in San Francisco is Shirley Liu. In the Hong Kong office, Liu will assist in the development of its TMT client business for Greater China. As associate vice president, Asian TMT, Liu will also support the development of ABN's inbound/outbound TMT multinational client business in the region.

According to ABN Amro, TMT related hires will continue over the next few months with several additions to be expected in the Korean and Chinese markets.

Recently, the TMT business scored a $115 million convertible bond deal for India's Bharti Televentures on which ABN AMRO Rothschild was a joint bookrunner.