Jefferies, the US mid-market specialist investment bank and securities firm, has recruited Robert Lessin, former head of the investment banking at Salomon Smith Barney, as vice chairman.

Jefferies has recently made several other senior investment banking appointments including Raymond Minella as director of capital markets origination and Gregg Feinstein as director of mergers and acquisitions. David Reilly joined as head of the firm's services group last month along with a team of 20 from Robertson Stephens.