Standard & Poor's, the financial information and ratings agency, is boosting its equity reseach team with the appointment of a pharmaceutical analyst.

S&P has hired David Seemungal from The Wellcome Trust, one of the world's largest charities, where he was senior policy adviser and coordinator of policy planning for eight years. He advised the UK-based charity on the technical merits of prospective investment opportunities. At S&P Seemungal will be reporting to Jim MacLachlan, director of equity research.