BofA Hires Goldman Investment Banker

Still, Hogg has some admirers in high places, among them Sullivan & Cromwell partner Rodgin Cohen, one of the most powerful private sector attorneys focused on the banking industry. "You deal with a lot of smart people in this business, but Chris is really one of the smartest guys I know," Cohen says.

Merrill Lynch(MER Quote) in 1997 announced that they had hired Hogg, only to watch Goldman woo him back that same month.

Since the credit crisis hit, Goldman has been a powerhouse in helping financial institutions raise equity and equity-like capital. Notable advisory assignments include the $7 billion dollar investments in both National City(NCC Quote) and Washington Mutual(WM Quote). Though it is officially charged with raising debt, the group formerly led by Hogg has been in the thick of that activity.

Hogg is only the latest in a string of high-profile hires by BofA. The bank has snapped up several senior bankers from Morgan Stanley(MS Quote) and Bear Stearns over the last two months or so. Among these is Phil Barnett, a Morgan Stanley veteran who will oversee the group of investment bankers charged with forging relationships with financial institutions clients. The hires of Barnett and Hogg indicate BofA is overhauling this unit, which has also seen some senior departures in recent months.