B. Riley Promotes Merriman to Chief Business Officer

B. Riley Financial Inc. has named Jon Merriman senior managing director and chief business officer. Merriman previously served as head of capital markets for the Woodland Hills firm’s broker-dealer subsidiary, B. Riley FBR Inc. In his new role, Merriman will look for opportunities by “identifying synergies” between B. Riley’s various business divisions and subsidiaries, according to the company. He will continue managing investment banking transactions at B. Riley FBR. “(Merriman) has been a consistent contributor to the success of our broker-dealer,” Bryant Riley, B. Riley’s chief executive, said in the statement. “As we continue to grow our platform, we are looking to position resources to focus on finding opportunities which leverage multiple business units. Having Jon apply his business development experience and focus on this expanded effort brings us closer to our goal of providing full service, end-to-end solutions for our clients.” Merriman has a 25-year career in investment banking, brokerage and trading, including as chief executive of Merriman Capital Inc. and head of equities for Wells Fargo Securities.