By Jessica Papini
Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
NEW YORK -(Dow Jones)- Boutique investment bank Caris & Co. hired Craig Ellis, senior analyst from Citigroup (C), last week.
Ellis headed Citi's specialty semiconductor group for more than four years and had worked at the bank for nine years. He covers companies such as SanDisk Corp. (SNDK) and Microchip Technology Inc. (MCHP). He will be based in San Francisco.
Ellis left Citi in November, and the bank expects to resume coverage of the space in the future, a Citi spokesman said. Caris & Co. also hired Dorothy Lakner as a specialty retail analyst. Lakner worked at CIBC World Markets, now Oppenheimer Capital Markets, for 16 years. She left that post about a year and half ago. Lakner, who will be based in New York, will focus on the teen apparel sector. Her past coverage of companies includes American Eagle Outfitters Inc. (AEO) and Quiksilver Inc. (ZQK).
The boutique bank is hoping to hire five additional analysts this year, depending on market conditions, said CEO Darren Caris. The Del Mar, Calif.-based firm, founded seven years ago, currently has 15 analysts.
-By Jessica Papini, Dow Jones Newswires; 201-938-2437; jessica.papini@dowjones.com