Centerview Hires Lazard Sovereign Bankers as Global Debt Soars

Two former bankers from Lazard Inc.’s sector-leading sovereign-advisory team are joining their former boss at rival investment bank Centerview Partners LLC as it looks to work for governments trying to solve mounting debt problems.

New York-based Centerview hired Hamouda Chekir and Charles Albinet for its Paris office, according to people with knowledge of the matter who asked not to be identified because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly. Both were members of Lazard’s sovereign-advisory group, where Chekir was a director, according to their LinkedIn profiles.

Representatives for Centerview and Lazard declined to comment.

The moves signify a fresh entry ...