People

Magnus Christensson has joined Jefferies as a managing director and European head of the firm’s fund placement group. He previously was with Atlantic-Pacific Capital.

Bob Deutsch has joined GCP Capital as a managing director. He previously was CEO of GCP portfolio company Ironshore Inc.

Paul Donofrio has been named head of global corporate banking at BoA Merrill Lynch. He succeeds Cathy Bessant, who has taken a global tech and operations role.

Steve Epstein has joined Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP as a partner in the mergers and acquisitions practice group. He was previously a partner at O’Melveny & Myers LLP.

Lee Fensterstock has stepped down as CEO of Broadpoint Gleacher Securities Group Inc. (Nasdaq: BPSG), to “pursue other interests.” He also has left the company’s board of directors. Chairman Eric Gleacher has been named as successor.

Douglas Goodwillie has joined LBC Credit Partners as a director in the firm’s Chicago office. He previously was an operating director with Arsenal Capital Partners.

Noel Gruber has joined BuckleySandler as counsel, with a focus on representing U.S. financial institutions on securities, corporate, transactional and regulatory matters. He previously was with Kennedy & Baris LLP.

Jeff Howe has joined Jefferies as a managing director in the firm’s financial sponsors group. He previously was co-head of leveraged finance origination and restructuring at Credit Suisse.

John Kelly, former president and CEO of Crown Castle International Corp., has joined Berkshire Partners as an advisory director.

Richard Leonard and Michael Koike have joined the private equity group of Angelo, Gordon & Co. as a managing director and vice president, respectively. Leonard previously was a managing director with Bruckmann, Rosser, Sherrill & Co., while Koike was a vice president with Ripplewood Holdings.

Christopher Kirkham has joined the San Francisco office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, as a partner in the firm’s private equity and corporate practices. He previously was a partner with O’Melveny & Myers.

Lawrence Larose and Samuel Kohn have joined the New York office of Winston & Strawn LLP, as partners in the law firm’s restructuring and insolvency group. William Grant has joined as senior counsel in the firm’s M&A practice. Larose previously was lead counsel for MBIA Insurance Corp., Kohn was with Dewey & LeBoeuf and Grant was with Willkie Farr & Gallagher.

Mike McTighe has joined General Atlantic as a special advisor, with a particular focus on Europe. He is chairman of Pace, Volex Group and WYG Group.

Bruce Pasternack has joined Venrock as an operating partner, with a focus on the venture firm’s energy portfolio. He previously was a principal with CMEA Capital.

Tom Perkins of Monitor Clipper Partners has been promoted to operating partner. Other recent promotions at the firm include Samer Ezzeddine and David Sheffer to vice president and Jennifer DuBois to fund accounting manager.

Michael Smith has stepped down as the University of Florida’s first chief investment officer, in order to join Global Endowment Management as a partner. He had originally come to Florida in 2004 from Duke Investment Management Co. (DUMAC), and helped to launch the University of Florida Investment Corp. (UFICO). Smith will focus of overall strategy and hedge funds at GEM, whose private equity practice is managed by fellow DUMAC alum Hugh Wrigley. Smith’s last day at UFICO is March 31.

Charles Watson has joined William Blair & Co. as head of Southeastern U.S. coverage for the firm’s financial sponsors group. He previously was a member of the financial sponsors group at Wachovia Securities, and ran transaction development.