Helix hires ex-Goldman banker into London office

Helix Associates, a UK placement agent, has strengthened its European team with the hire of senior ex-Goldman Sachs banker Clive Norton.

Norton joins Helix as a managing director in the London office, reporting to managing partner Lord Charles Cecil. His recruitment means Helix now has seven managing directors across its two offices in London and New York.

Norton was previously co-head of Goldman’s private equity group’s European operations. He retired from the bank last year, but continues to work for them as a consultant. During his time at Goldman he led the group’s product management efforts, and helped it to forge new relationships with fund managers and investors in Japan, Australia and Europe.

Norton is the second senior appointment made by Helix in the space of a few months. In November, the firm hired Wanda Felton, formerly a director of Credit Suisse’s fund placement group into its New York office.

However, there has also been some senior-level departures. Helix recently lost managing director John Barber, who left in November to take a role with private equity firm Bridgepoint Capital. Laurence Zage, formerly vice-president and head of research at Helix, also left last year to become a director at rival placement agent Monument Group.

Founded in 1993, Helix joined the international network of boutique US investment bank Jefferies in 2005. It has since closed nine funds for its clients, with a total value of over $9.5 billion ($12.3 billion).