Oppenheimer Appoints Chris DeFalco And John Hyland As Co-Heads Of Equity Capital Markets

Rhea-AI Summary

Oppenheimer (NYSE:OPY) named Chris DeFalco and John Hyland as Co-Heads of its Equity Capital Markets (ECM) investment banking group, effective March 24, 2026. Both will serve on the firm's Investment Banking Commitment Committee while Peter Bennett shifts to lead Corporate Executive Services to connect Investment Banking and Wealth Management.

DeFalco has completed more than 285 equity and equity-linked offerings and led the firm's SPAC practice; Hyland has led over 200 equity offerings and joined Oppenheimer in 2021.

Positive

• Experienced leadership: DeFalco >285 equity offerings as bookrunner or lead manager
• Proven capacity: Hyland >200 equity offerings as bookrunner or lead manager
• Combined deal pedigree: leadership team has advised on >485 equity transactions
• Stronger client connectivity: Peter Bennett to lead Corporate Executive Services connecting IB and Wealth

Negative

• None.

News Market Reaction – OPY

+1.11%

+1.11% Session close to close

In the Mar 24 session, OPY gained 1.11%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Market Context

This announcement underscores Oppenheimer’s focus on expanding its Equity Capital Markets platform b...

Analysis

This announcement underscores Oppenheimer’s focus on expanding its Equity Capital Markets platform by elevating leaders with track records across more than 285 and 200 equity deals, respectively. It follows recent positive milestones such as record 2025 earnings and a special dividend. Investors may monitor how this leadership structure affects ECM deal flow, cross-selling with Wealth Management, and whether subsequent financial results reflect stronger capital markets activity.

Key Figures

ECM offerings completed: more than 285 offerings Equity offerings led: more than 200 offerings DeFalco tenure: since 2015 +2 more

5 metrics

ECM offerings completed more than 285 offerings Equity and equity-linked deals led by DeFalco as bookrunner or lead

Equity offerings led more than 200 offerings Equity deals where Hyland served as bookrunner or lead manager

DeFalco tenure since 2015 Year DeFalco joined Oppenheimer

Bennett tenure since 2019 Year Bennett joined Oppenheimer

Hyland tenure since 2021 Year Hyland joined Oppenheimer

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Mar 17 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	24h Move	Catalyst
Mar 17	Leadership appointment	Positive	+1.1%	Launch of dedicated Debt Private Placements Group with new MD leadership.
Feb 25	Leadership appointment	Positive	+3.7%	Public Finance group strengthened with experienced MD focused on California.
Jan 30	Earnings report	Positive	+10.3%	Record Q4 and FY 2025 earnings with strong revenue growth and special dividend.
Dec 12	Special dividend	Positive	+0.7%	$1.00 per share special cash dividend funded from existing cash activities.
Dec 08	Research hire	Positive	+0.2%	Senior biotech research MD added to strengthen healthcare and biotech coverage.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Pattern Detected

Recent OPY news on leadership hires, earnings, and dividends has generally coincided with positive next-day price reactions.

Recent Company History

Over the past few months, Oppenheimer has combined strong financial performance with targeted leadership additions. Record Q4 and FY 2025 earnings and a $1.00 special dividend were followed by modestly positive stock moves. Management hires across public finance, biotech research, and debt private placements also saw positive reactions. Today’s appointment of new Co-Heads for Equity Capital Markets continues this pattern of building out key capital markets capabilities following strong results.

Key Terms

equity capital markets, spac, ipos, bookrunner, +1 more

5 terms

equity capital markets financial

"named Co-Heads of the firm's Equity Capital Markets Investment Banking group"

Equity capital markets are the channels and activities through which companies sell ownership stakes (shares) to investors, including initial public offerings, follow-on share sales, and block trades. Think of it as a marketplace or storefront where firms raise money by offering pieces of the business; the size, timing and price of those offerings can change a stock’s supply, dilute existing ownership, and influence valuation and future growth prospects, so investors watch it closely.

spac financial

"He also led Oppenheimer's SPAC practice, advising growth companies and sponsors"

A special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) is a company formed specifically to raise money through an initial public offering (IPO) with the goal of buying or merging with an existing private company. For investors, a SPAC offers a way to invest in a potential future business without initially knowing which company it will acquire, making it a way to access new investment opportunities that might otherwise be difficult to invest in directly.

View in glossary

ipos financial

"expanding the firm's ECM franchise, particularly across IPOs in Consumer"

IPOs are the first time a privately owned company offers its shares for sale to the general public, turning ownership stakes into tradable stock. For investors, an IPO is a chance to buy into a company early, but it also often brings greater price swings and uncertainty as the market decides what the business is worth — similar to watching a new product launch determine future demand and value.

bookrunner financial

"has completed more than 285 equity and equity-linked offerings as bookrunner or lead"

A bookrunner is the lead bank or financial firm that organizes and manages a new securities offering, acting like a project manager who sets the price range, collects investor demand, and decides how shares are allocated. For investors, the bookrunner’s choices and reputation influence the final price, how many shares each buyer receives, and the overall chance the deal succeeds — similar to how a trusted referee shapes a fair and well-run auction.

lead manager financial

"more than 200 equity offerings in which he served as bookrunner or lead manager"

A lead manager is the main investment bank or financial firm that organizes and runs a securities offering, such as an IPO or bond sale. They coordinate the paperwork and checks, set pricing guidance, recruit other banks, market the deal to investors and decide how securities are allocated — like a project manager or conductor — and their skill and reputation materially affect pricing, demand and investor access.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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Peter Bennett to Lead Corporate Executive Services Team

NEW YORK, March 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. (Oppenheimer), a leading investment bank, wealth manager, and subsidiary of Oppenheimer Holdings Inc., today announced that Managing Directors Chris DeFalco and John Hyland have been named Co-Heads of the firm's Equity Capital Markets Investment Banking group.

In their new roles, they will jointly oversee the strategic direction, execution, and continued growth of Oppenheimer's leading equity capital markets platform, with a focus on deepening Oppenheimer's product expertise across its core industry verticals. Both will also serve on the firm's Investment Banking Commitment Committee.

As part of the transition, Peter Bennett will move from his role as Head of Equity Capital Markets to lead Oppenheimer's Corporate Executive Services team. In that position, he will help strengthen connectivity between Investment Banking and Wealth Management, creating a more coordinated experience for the firm's clients. Bennett has been with Oppenheimer since 2019.

"Chris and John have each earned the trust of clients and colleagues through years of disciplined execution and thoughtful leadership," said Robert Lowenthal, President and CEO of Oppenheimer and Co-Head of Investment Banking. "Together, they bring a powerful combination of sector depth, capital markets experience, and a collaborative approach that will help us extend the strength of our ECM franchise. Peter's move to Corporate Executive Services is equally important. It reflects our ongoing commitment to connecting our investment banking and wealth management capabilities in a way that creates a seamless experience for clients as they transition across teams when their needs evolve."

DeFalco, who joined the firm in 2015, is a Consumer, Healthcare, and Technology growth ECM specialist who has completed more than 285 equity and equity-linked offerings as bookrunner or lead manager. He also led Oppenheimer's SPAC practice, advising growth companies and sponsors pursuing alternative paths to the public markets. DeFalco earned his undergraduate degree from Rutgers University. 

Hyland, who joined Oppenheimer in 2021, has been instrumental in expanding the firm's ECM franchise, particularly across IPOs in Consumer, Financial Institutions, Industrials, and Technology. He brings more than 20 years of capital markets experience, including more than 200 equity offerings in which he served as bookrunner or lead manager. Before joining the firm, Hyland worked at Bank of America, where he focused on equity capital markets transactions, and at Barclays, where he specialized in institutional equity sales. He holds an undergraduate degree from Washington and Lee University and an MBA from NYU's Stern School of Business.

"We are proud to step into this role and continue the trajectory Peter and the team have built," DeFalco and Hyland said. "Our focus will be on delivering consistent execution, maintaining direct and ongoing dialogue with our clients, and expanding the breadth of what we can do for them. By working more closely across the firm, we can support corporate leaders not only at the transaction level but as long-term partners as their businesses grow and their priorities evolve."

About Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.
Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., a major subsidiary of Oppenheimer Holdings Inc. (NYSE: OPY), is a leading middle-market investment bank and full-service broker-dealer. The firm provides a broad range of investment banking, securities brokerage and wealth management services to corporations, institutions and high-net-worth individuals.

Media Contact:
Michael Dugan
Haven Tower Group LLC
424 317 4852
mdugan@haventower.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/oppenheimer-appoints-chris-defalco-and-john-hyland-as-co-heads-of-equity-capital-markets-302722813.html

SOURCE Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.

FAQ

Who are the new Co-Heads of Equity Capital Markets at Oppenheimer (OPY) announced March 24, 2026?

The new Co-Heads are Chris DeFalco and John Hyland. According to Oppenheimer, both will jointly oversee ECM strategy and serve on the firm's Investment Banking Commitment Committee.

What experience do Chris DeFalco and John Hyland bring to Oppenheimer's ECM group (OPY)?

DeFalco has completed over 285 equity and equity-linked offerings; Hyland has led over 200 equity offerings. According to Oppenheimer, both bring sector depth and capital markets execution experience.

What role will Peter Bennett assume after the Oppenheimer (OPY) March 24, 2026 leadership change?

Peter Bennett will lead Oppenheimer's Corporate Executive Services team. According to Oppenheimer, his role is to strengthen connectivity between Investment Banking and Wealth Management for client transitions.

How will the Co-Head structure affect Oppenheimer's ECM strategy for shareholders of OPY?

The firm says the Co-Head structure aims to deepen product expertise and expand ECM capabilities across industry verticals. According to Oppenheimer, the move focuses on consistent execution and broader client coverage.

When did John Hyland join Oppenheimer and what is his background relevant to OPY's ECM?

John Hyland joined Oppenheimer in 2021 and has over 20 years of capital markets experience. According to Oppenheimer, he previously worked at Bank of America and Barclays on equity capital markets and institutional sales.

What specific practices has Chris DeFalco led within Oppenheimer's ECM franchise (OPY)?

Chris DeFalco led Oppenheimer's SPAC practice and specializes in Consumer, Healthcare, and Technology growth ECM. According to Oppenheimer, he has advised growth companies and sponsors on alternate paths to public markets.