03:28 PM EDT, 03/27/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Andre-Philippe Hardy has returned to the bank where his career began, The Globe and Mail is reporting Wednesday.

After nearly 17 years at Royal Bank of Canada ( RY ), most recently as head of Canadian and Asia-Pacific research, Hardy rejoined Toronto-Dominion Bank ( MLWIQXX ) earlier this month as head of Canadian research. His new responsibilities are expected to involve merging TD's Canadian research offerings with those of Cowen Inc., the New York-based independent investment bank that TD acquired for US$1.3-billion in 2022.

"I know from past conversations with TD bankers that their priority is integrating the TD Securities' Canadian platform with Cowen's U.S. platform," said Bill Vlaad, the chief executive officer of Toronto-based executive search firm Vlaad and Co. "And RBC runs an integrated global equity research platform, which Andre-Philippe helped create and manage."

TD Securities spokesperson Jillian Tanouye confirmed via e-mail that Hardy had recently started in his new role, adding that he will be reporting to global head of research Robert Fagin. Hardy's appointment represents the latest in a number of personnel changes TD has made in the wake of the Cowen deal.

Sante Corona was promoted to co-head of TD's global equity capital markets business in March, 2023, and relocated to New York two months later to create "seamless connectivity" between TD and Cowen, the bank said at the time. In December, 2023, as TD was preparing to cut roughly 3,000 jobs, the bank announced nearly a dozen new hires for its investment banking, equity sales and research teams in order to expedite its U.S. expansion plans.

(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally, and/or from other media sources. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)

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