Japanese firm Nomura has hired a Wells Fargo banker to help build its fledgling convertible bonds business in the US, where issuance of these securities has already surpassed 2009 levels and more than doubled sales in Europe.

Douglas Decker, who has been hired as managing director and head of convertible bonds, told Financial News that he was tasked with growing Nomura's business "from scratch" in North and South America, looking at both domestic issuance and distribution, as well as sourcing new issuances from companies and selling those internationally.