Bear Stearns makes London hires

The Bear Stearns Cos. Inc. today expanded its European investment banking division with a series of new appointments. Paul Abecassis, a senior banker with Bear Stearns in Europe, has been named chairman of European investment banking, a newly created role. A 16-year veteran of the company, he will continue working from the company’s European headquarters in London. Bear Stearns has also named Mark Goldstein and Florian Lahnstein co-heads of European investment banking. Mr. Goldstein, who has been with the company since 1994, has also been named head of European acquisition finance, a division that includes the firm’s leveraged finance and financial sponsor coverage efforts. Mr. Lahnstein has been with the company since this January, joining from UBS to focus on the global technology, media and telecommunications industries as well as the German market.