Fitch adds six municipal bond analysts to its public finance group

Fitch Ratings said it has hired six analysts to join its U.S. Public Finance group. The analysts will be based throughout the country and cover various municipal subsectors.

Joining Fitch’s San Francisco office are senior directors Pascal St. Gerard, who will serve as Fitch’s Western regional manager, and Karen Fitzgerald, who becomes Fitch’s sector head for community development and social lending, the agency announced on Tuesday.

St. Gerard comes to Fitch after spending 13 years at Charles Schwab as a senior municipal analyst. Previously, he worked at Moody’s Investors Service and spent more than 20 years at S&P Global Ratings where he was an analytical leader in the public finance housing and structured securities group.

“Rating agency credit analysis and thought leadership are highly valued by market participants within U.S. public finance,” said Ann Flynn, Fitch’s global business development head for public finance and infrastructure.

Directors Akiko Mitsui, education and non-profits, and Tammy Gamerman, state governments, will be based in the New York office.

Mitsui’s 20-plus year career includes 16 years with The Vanguard Group and 11 years with Fuji Bank.

Previously, Gamerman was the director of budget research for the Office of the New York City Comptroller where she monitored and analyzed the city’s finances.

In Austin, Fitch has added Brian Williamson, on the not-for-profit healthcare team, and Lauren Wynn in the local government ratings group, as directors.

Williamson worked previously at S&P while Wynn was the manager of the city of Austin’s capital improvement and bond programs.

“We’re pleased to enhance our team’s capabilities with these experienced analysts who will provide valued credit analysis and perspectives,” said Arlene Bohner, Fitch’s analytical head of U.S. public finance.