William Blair today announced another step in its continued growth with the addition of three managing directors, expanding the firm’s Industrial Growth Products team to provide enhanced coverage in the chemicals and specialty materials and in the energy transition, power, and electrification sectors, while also bolstering its comprehensive Equity Capital Markets capabilities.
The new managing directors are Jayant Dey, who will deepen the firm’s existing coverage in energy transition, power, and electrification; Alain Harfouche, who will broaden the firm’s existing specialty materials coverage into chemicals; and Matthew Wolfe, who will lead capital markets coverage of the technology industry.
The additions are the latest in a series of recent investments by William Blair across the firm’s global platform. Over the last 12 months, the firm has hired senior bankers in London, Stockholm, Frankfurt, Madrid, and New York with expertise in consumer goods, services, healthcare, fund placement, advisory, and secondaries for financial sponsors.
Dey joins from BNP Paribas, where he focused on M&A and capital formation in the critical minerals, battery manufacturing, nuclear, independent power producers, and carbon capture sectors, among others. His 14-year career includes oil and gas and energy transition sector investment banking roles at UBS, Credit Suisse, and Standard Chartered in the U.S. and Asia. Dey received a bachelor’s degree of technology from the Indian Institute of Technology, a master’s degree from the University of Connecticut, and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago.
Harfouche has 14 years of experience advising chemicals and specialty materials companies, and financial sponsors on value creation strategies, including M&A transactions and financings. His deal experience spans intermediate and fine chemicals, functional additives, formulated specialties, engineered materials, and chemical distribution. Most recently, he was senior managing director at Guggenheim Securities, and previously was managing director and head of chemicals at KeyBanc Capital Markets. He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting from Cleveland State University.
“Jay and Alain will significantly enhance our sector expertise across two rapidly growing, large and attractive industrial sub-verticals,” said Elliot Farkas, head of Industrial Growth Products investment banking at William Blair. “Jay and Alain’s reputations and relationships with leading companies and key strategic and financial investors in their respective markets will expand our ability to deliver creative, holistic solutions across these key sectors that are experiencing significant tailwinds.”
Throughout a 20-year career, Wolfe has provided capital markets guidance across the technology ecosystem, including software, internet services, fintech, semiconductors, and systems. He joins from Piper Sandler, where he served as managing director and head of technology and consumer equity capital markets, and he previously held roles at Evercore, Barclay’s, and BofA Merrill Lynch. Wolfe received a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University.
“We are excited to welcome Matt, who brings market-leading capital formation and liquidity solution capabilities for the technology sector along with deep corporate and investor relationships across the public and private markets,” said Steve Maletzky, head of Capital Markets at William Blair. “Matt’s insight into the technology ecosystem, matched with sophisticated capital markets expertise, will add significant value to our growth-oriented clients seeking holistic solutions and access to growth capital and liquidity.”
About William Blair
William Blair is the premier global partnership with expertise in investment banking, investment management, and private wealth management. We provide advisory services, strategies, and solutions to meet our clients’ evolving needs. As an independent and employee-owned firm, together with our strategic partners, we operate in more than 20 offices worldwide.*
*Includes strategic partnerships with Allier Capital, BDA Partners, and Poalim Capital Markets.