Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. Hires Michael Werner

Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. senior banking analyst Michael Werner is heading to Hong Kong. “When they came to me with this opportunity, I said, ‘Absolutely!’” The eager 31-year-old initiated coverage last month on Hong Kong and Chinese banks as part of the New York–based research firm’s plan to bolster its presence in China.

In Hong Kong he will join senior oil analyst Neil Beveridge, and in June they’ll welcome senior analyst Shing Yin, who covers Chinese telecoms. Bern­stein research head David Barnard says that, by the end of 2011, he hopes to have up to 15 analysts in Hong Kong.