Feb 19 (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs ( GS ) has appointed

insiders William Connolly and Michael Voris as co-heads of

equity capital markets (ECM) in the Americas, according to a

memo seen by Reuters on Wednesday.

The move comes at a time when Wall Street firms are vying to

get more business in their ECM units by winning more mandates on

high-profile initial public offerings as stock market floatation

continues to ride last year's recovery wave.

Goldman is a heavyweight in equity capital markets, the part

of investment banking that starts selling shares in previously

private companies to the public, a traditional way to unlock new

funding for growing businesses.

Connolly, who joined the Wall Street firm in 2005, is head

of Technology ECM and advises clients on equity-related matters

across technology, media and telecommunications, the memo

added.

Voris is global head of convertible bond financing and

manages alternative capital solutions and equity derivatives in

the Americas.

Goldman also named Elizabeth Reed chief operating

officer for ECM globally, a newly created role, in addition to

her duties as global head of the equity syndicate desk, the memo

said.