people_10_20_03

William Wise joined Houston-based private equity firm Spinel Capital as an executive advisor. Wise recently retired from his chairman and CEO post at natural gas provider El Paso Corp.

Scott Rocklage joined 5AM Ventures as a venture partner. Rocklage was CEO of Cubist Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Betsy Bliss was named a San Francisco-based managing director in the Private Client Services division of Bear, Stearns & Co. Bliss previously served as an executive director at Oppenheimer.

William Murphy and Patrick Shattenkirk joined Cogent Partners as managing directors. The pair will help open and manage a New York office for the Dallas-based firm. Murphy joins Cogent from Salomon Smith Barney. Shattenkirk was formerly with Deutsche Bankís private equity group.

John Janitz was named co-managing principal of Questor Management Co.. He shares the post with Jay Alix and most recently served as president and COO of Textron Inc.

Alexander Castaldi was named a managing director with buyout firm JLL Partners. He recently served as executive vice president and CFO with Remington Products Co.