The new head of merchant banking has joined from Kleinwort Hambros.

Global investment office Stanhope Capital has appointed Nigel Spray as partner and head of the firm’s merchant banking division. This is a newly-created role at the firm.

Spray joins Stanhope Capital from Kleinwort Hambros where he held the position of managing director and head of private merchant banking, the firm said in a statement.

Previously, Spray founded Frontiers Capital, a firm which acted as principal investor in, and advisor to, high growth businesses in consumer sectors. Prior to this, Spray had been a managing director at Credit Suisse jointly running its European consumer group and with more than 30 years’ experience,

"His extensive industry relationships and international transaction experience is a perfect fit with our merchant banking division and will take it to the next stage of its expansion,” ​Daniel Pinto, founding partner and CEO of Stanhope Capital. “Our merchant banking division is hugely complimentary to our core wealth management business. Our clients are entrepreneurs and industrial families who turn to Stanhope for unbiased high quality advice to manage their liquid wealth but also their substantial business interests. Combining these skill sets under the same roof is key to our success."

In March 2017, the firm appointed Mexico’s former finance minister, and economist Dr Pedro Aspe, to its advisory board where he sits alongside Lord Browne, the former BP chief executive and Sir Martin Sorrell, CEO of WPP. 

Stanhope Capital oversees about $10 billion in client assets. The team consists of over 80 staff including 12 partners operating from offices in London, Geneva and Jersey.