JMP Group LLC, an investment banking and alternative asset management firm, announced today that Andrew Mertz has joined JMP Securities as a managing director in its equity capital markets division. Based in the firm’s New York office, Mr. Mertz assists publicly traded and privately held companies in the structuring and execution of equity offerings and equity-linked transactions.

“Andy has spent over 25 years in equity capital markets roles at some of Wall Street’s top growth-oriented investment banks,” said Mark Lehmann, JMP Securities’ president and head of equity capital markets. “His expertise and perspective will be hugely valuable to JMP’s corporate clients as they develop their financing strategies and seek access to institutional investors in an increasingly complex market environment. Despite the challenging backdrop, JMP is investing in its relationships with issuers and investors alike, and Andy’s arrival underlines that commitment.”

Prior to joining JMP Securities, Mr. Mertz was a managing director in the equity capital markets group at Cowen and Company, where he oversaw equity financing activity in the technology and healthcare verticals and, earlier in his career, served as head of equity syndicate. He previously held equity capital markets positions at Robertson Stephens and Bear, Stearns & Co. Mr. Mertz received an MBA from Fordham University and a BBA from Pace University.