SMBC and SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc., members of SMBC Group, announced the appointment of Christopher Baldwin and Josh Maio as Managing Directors.

Baldwin joins the Real Estate, Gaming & Leisure team within the Corporate & Investment Banking business unit. Maio joins the investment banking advisory group, where he will lead the origination and execution for Real Estate, Gaming & Leisure investment banking advisory business. Both are based in our New York office.

“Christopher and Josh will expand upon our effort to provide tailored solutions for our hospitality clients,” said Richard Eisenberg, Managing Executive Officer and Deputy Head of the Americas. “Their experience will help us to grow our multi-disciplinary hospitality practice, which includes hotels, gaming, restaurants, and the broader global leisure universe, a key growth area for our team. We’re excited to bring both Christopher and Josh on board as we continue to strengthen our Corporate and Investment Banking business on a global scale, and across various targeted industry verticals.”

“We are very pleased to welcome Christopher and Josh to the firm,” said Scott Ashby, Senior Deputy President, Head of Capital Markets and Investment Banking. “Their knowledge, industry reputation, and connectivity will provide us with the added expertise to drive greater deal flow and client impact.”

Baldwin joins SMBC from Nomura, where he launched and led the firm’s Real Estate, Gaming, Lodging, and Leisure (REGLL) practice as Managing Director and Head of REGLL in the Americas.

Before his tenure with Nomura, Baldwin was a Managing Director at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. He has covered the gaming and leisure sector since 2001, during which time he launched and subsequently ran the Gaming and Leisure Investment Banking Group at Merrill Lynch.

Baldwin earned his undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College and his Juris Doctor and MBA from the University of Virginia.
Josh joins SMBC Nikko Securities America from Nomura, where he co-launched its Real Estate, Gaming, Lodging, and Leisure business.

Prior to his nine-year tenure with Nomura, Maio co-founded Rossoff & Company, a New York City based hospitality-focused boutique investment bank. Before Rossoff & Co., Maio was an investment banker with Bank of America’s technology practice.

Maio earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from The College of William & Mary and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst charter from the CFA Institute.