Fitch Ratings hired Charles Gamm as a senior director to head the rating agency’s Canada office.
Gamm, who previously headed up Moody’s Investors Service structured finance efforts in Canada will be based in Toronto, and will focus on working with investors, issuers and arrangers to broaden the agency’s involvement in rating major corporations and financial institutions as well as structured finance sectors including ABS and ABCP.
Gamm was a 10-year veteran at Moody’s, with the past six years spent in its Canada office after a four-year stint in London. Before his time at Moody’s, Gamm worked at Citigroup in Toronto, Germany and London, with a focus on commercial real estate and CMBS.
He was also the president of the Canadian Chapter of the Commercial Mortgage Securities Association from 2006-2008.
Fitch now rates different corporations, financial institutions, structured finance deals and ABCP programs in the Canadian market. But, with the global credit markets still recovering, investors still have an increased interest in more information and perspective from Fitch on a broader number of companies and transactions.
"Fitch is very pleased to bring someone of Charles’ skill set, background and perspective on board," said Doug Murray, group managing director and global head of structured finance business development at Fitch. "Charles’ addition reflects Canada’s position as an extremely
important player in the global capital markets and our commitment to increase Fitch’s presence in this region."
‘Fitch provides investors and other market participants with the highest quality and most transparent research and analytics combined with the greatest level of analyst accessibility,’ said Peter Jordan, Fitch’s global head of business development. "I am confident that Charles will use his previous rating experience to increase the market’s awareness of Fitch by offering his perspective on a wide array of issuers and transactions."