Three senior analysts appointed by Jefferies for healthcare equity research

Jefferies today announced the expansion of its Healthcare Equity Research effort with the hiring of three senior analysts. Corey Davis, PhD has joined as a Managing Director covering Specialty Pharmaceuticals, Thomas Wei will join next month as a Managing Director covering Biotechnology, and Jon Davis Wood will join later this month as a Senior Vice President covering Life Sciences Tools. All three professionals will be based in New York.

“We are pleased to welcome these proven and experienced professionals to Jefferies,” commented Steven R. Black, Global Head of Equity Research at Jefferies. “Their addition enhances Jefferies’ ability to continue to provide clients with high-quality, independent, global equity research coverage of the dynamic and opportunity-rich healthcare sector.”

Jefferies’ global coverage of the Healthcare sector now includes 17 analysts across equity and high yield. The hiring of these three analysts follows the addition of six analysts focused on the Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology industries in London earlier this year. Jefferies’ Healthcare coverage now spans Biotechnology, Pharmaceuticals, Specialty Pharmaceuticals, Contract Research Organizations (CROs), Medical Devices, Medical Diagnostics, Life Sciences Tools, Healthcare Information Technology, Healthcare Services, Facilities, Healthcare Supplies, Managed Care and REITs.

Jefferies has nearly 140 equity research professionals globally and more than 800 companies currently under coverage. In 2009, Jefferies analysts have won nearly 20 research analyst awards in surveys by The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times / StarMine and Forbes / Zack's.

Dr. Davis joins Jefferies from Natixis Bleichroeder, where he was a managing director for Specialty Pharmaceuticals research and was named to the Institutional Investor All-America Research Team for several years. Previously, he was a Vice President at Hambrecht & Quist (acquired by JP Morgan), where he spent nine years. Dr. Davis received a PhD in Molecular Biology from Princeton University, where he also received a MS, and received a BA from Middlebury College.

Mr. Wei joins Jefferies from Piper Jaffray, where he spent six years and was a managing director for Biotechnology research. Previously, he was at Deutsche Bank and Adams, Harkness & Hill, where he spent five years as an associate analyst. Mr. Wei received an AB degree in Biochemical Sciences from Harvard College and a MBA from Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar.

Mr. Wood joins Jefferies from Banc of America Securities, where he spent five years as a Senior Equity Analyst for Diagnostic & Research Supplies and was named to the Institutional Investor All-America Research team for several years. Previously, he was an Associate Analyst at Morgan Keegan. Mr. Wood received a BA from Rhodes College, magna cum laude.

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