Aug 9 (Reuters) - Barclays ( JJCTF ) has hired Stephen

Stewart, an investment banking veteran, from TD Securities to

lead its mergers and acquisition (M&A) execution in Canada, the

British bank said on Friday.

Stewart was till recently the managing director for M&A at

TD Securities, where he had an over 15-year long career.

The hiring comes at a time when hopes of a soft landing for

the economy and an ebullient market has helped dealmaking find

confidence in 2024, after a downbeat 2023, with a resurgence in

large M&As.

Stewart, during his time at TD, advised on several large M&A

deals that included Nuvei ( NVEI ) being taken private by

Advent and Dream Global REIT's sale to Blackstone,

according to a Barclays ( JJCTF ) statement.

Stewart will report to both Canada's investment banking head

Ryan Voegeli and Dan Grabos, head of Americas M&A.