Clearing Analyst Bolts for Microsoft

Matt Bienfang, a longtime clearing industry analyst for TowerGroup, has joined Microsoft Capital Markets, according to several sources.

He was a senior analyst in TowerGroup’s Retail Brokerage & Investing research service for many years. Bienfang is someone well-known in the clearing business. His research has targeted key subjects such as technology and operations in the brokerage industry, including compliance, back-office processing and correspondent clearing, according to the TowerGroup Web site.

Bienfang was frequently quoted in Traders Magazine’s sister publication, Clearing Quarterly & Directory.

Microsoft Capital Markets, which is part of the giant software maker’s Financial Services Group, provides reports and IT solutions for order management and trade execution firms. It also works with portfolio and investment management businesses.

A spokeswoman for Microsoft confirmed that Bienfang had been recently hired and will cover the securities industry. However, she declined to provide any additional information.

A spokesman for TowerGroup declined to comment.