TORONTO, March 26 (Reuters) - Raymond James Financial ( RJF )

has hired Chris Shaw, the former CEO of Cormark

Securities, as co-head of its Canadian investment banking unit,

according to a memo seen by Reuters.

Shaw, who spent 16 years at independent advisory firm

Cormark, will co-head the team with Craig McDougall, who also

heads the M&A team.

After a six-month transition period, McDougall will lead the

advisory M&A practice as head of M&A, Canada CEO Jamie Coulter

said in a memo to staff.

Shaw is expected to join the company on April 22.

Raymond James did not respond to a request for comment.

In Canada, Raymond James offers services to individual and

institutional clients as well as corporate issuers. Its

investment banking team of about 40 people focuses on areas

including mining and financial services.

It has about 1,700 employees and agents across Canada.

Investment banking firms are preparing to cater to clients

as demand is expected to recover this year following a long

period of lull after the central bank increased interest rates.

(Reporting by Nivedita Balu in Toronto; editing by Costas

Pitas)