Piers de Montfort has joined Credit Suisse First Boston as head of UK investment banking after 17 years at rival Morgan Stanley.

CSFB has been seeking a high-profile addition to its London-based team for months and has suffered senior departures. This month, Anthony Fry left to become head of UK investment banking at Lehman Brothers. CSFB reckons De Montfort will re-establish it as a top-five M&A adviser.