Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. announced today that it has lured Goldman Sachs veteran, Tom Montag, to serve as its new head of global sales and trading.

In his role, Montag, 51, will be responsible for all the firm’s global sales and trading activities across debt and equities. He will report directly to John Thain, chairman and CEO of Merrill Lynch.

Montag joins Merrill from Goldman Sachs Group Inc. after 22 years where he was co-head of the global securities business and a member of the company’s management committee when he left the company in December 2007. Prior to being co-head of the global securities business he was co-president of Goldman Sachs’ Japanese operations since 2001 and before that ran the firm’s global derivatives business.

“I am very pleased that Tom Montag, a proven leader with extensive industry knowledge and experience, is joining the senior management team of Merrill Lynch in this very important role,” says Thain. “Tom is one of the most highly skilled and knowledgeable people in the securities industry. With over 20 years of experience in the United States and internationally Tom will help drive the firm’s strategy in key markets around the world.”

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