FBR, an investment bank serving the middle market, has appointed John R. Mims as analyst, vice president in the company's diversified industrials equity research group covering Global Freight Transportation & Logistics. Mims joins FBR from BB&T Capital Markets where he was an equity research analyst following the surface transportation sector for four years. The company has also brought in Scott S. Thompson as analyst, vice president in the company's technology, media and telecom equity research group.