Piper Jaffray, an investment bank and asset management firm, appointed Ted Christianson as a partner in the merchant banking group.

He will serve alongside the group’s managing directors Tom Schnettler and Bob Rinek, and senior advisor David Crosby.

Christianson brings more than 27 years of experience in financial services and investment banking to the merchant banking group. He joined Piper Jaffray in 1998 and most recently served as global head of the Piper Jaffray’s capital advisory group, which includes the firm’s equity private placement, financial restructuring and debt capital markets businesses.

“Ted brings an excellent set of private equity experiences and relationships to the merchant banking group that will be instrumental as the team begins raising Piper Jaffray Merchant Banking Fund II,” said Tom Schnettler, merchant banking managing director and vice chairman of Piper Jaffray. “Bob Rinek, David Crosby and I have worked closely with Ted for many years and we look forward to leveraging his considerable skills and relationships for the benefit of our investors.”