Bruce Wasserstein, head of Lazard, has hired Charles Ward, the former co-head of investment banking at Credit Suisse First Boston, to take on a newly created role of president, in the latest in a series of hires of Wasserstein's former colleagues.

Ward is one of the most experienced bankers on Wall Street, and worked closely with Wasserstein as president of Wasserstein Perella for six years before joining CSFB. The two were at CSFB together before that.