Maxim Group, the New York wealth management and investment banking firm, has hired five senior executives to strengthen its equity capital markets offering.

Alessandro Profita is now head of international sales and trading, with responsibility over the expansion of company's products and services throughout Europe. Before the appointment, he was head of US equity sales as ESN North America and had also worked for Gruppo Banca Popolaire di Milano, Banca Gesfid-Switzerland and Intesa San Paolo Imi Group-Italy.

Dirk van Erp is now senior vice president for institutional equity sales, responsible for expanding the sales coverage to west coast institutions. Before Maxim Group, he was a senior VP with Duncan-William in San Francisco. He also worked for Insight Capital Research, Suntrust Robinson Humphrey and Janny Montgomery Scott. 

John-Paul Cirigliano is SVP for institutional sales trading, providing coverage for middle market accounts focusing on single stock, programs, swaps and equity derivatives. Prior to Maxim, he was a team partner on the liquid markets equity sales trading desk of Barclays Capital. He also held similar posts at Lehman Brothers and Chapdelaine Corp Securities.

Dennis Nitka is now SVP for institutional sales trading. He used to be the head trader for 11:11 Capital, an external fund for Millenium Management. He previously held similar roles at Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch and Farina & Associates.

Rounding the list of new hires is Josh Levy, who is now SVP for institutional sales trading. Prior to Maxim, he was a managing director at ICAP and had previously held similar positions at Tullet Liberty, GFI and Oppenheimer & Co. 

Maxim Group's businesses span North and South America, Europe and Asia.