NEW YORK, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Paul Parker, the former globalhead of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) at Barclays Plc,has joined Goldman Sachs Group Inc as co-chairman of itsmergers and acquisitions division, a spokesman for Goldman Sachssaid on Sunday.
Parker is one of the world's most accomplished M&A bankers,having recently advised Valeant Pharmaceuticals InternationalInc on its roughly $50 billion bid for Botox makerAllergan Inc and Comcast Corp on a $42 billiontakeover of rival cable group Time Warner Cable Inc.
Parker, a Lehman Brothers veteran who left Barclays in May, is expected to assume his new role in the next couple of weeks,the Goldman Sachs spokesman said, confirming an earlier reportin the Financial Times.
Jack Levy and Tim Ingrassia will continue in their roles as co-chairmen of mergers and acquisitions and share that titlewith Parker, who is expected to handle some of the investmentbank's most important client relationships.
Gene Sykes and Gregg Lemkau will continue to manage GoldmanSachs' global M&A business, the spokesman said.
Parker was just one of a number of high-profile departuresat Barclays in the United States in recent months that includedHugh 'Skip' McGee, the head of its Americas business.
Barclays Chief Executive Antony Jenkins has said he does notexpect a further exodus of top talent after these departures inthe United States. (Reporting by Greg Roumeliotis in New York; Editing by MohammadZargham)