Frank Copplestone (pictured), the former global head of retail structured products at Morgan Stanley in London, is planning to launch an independent structured products boutique focused on client services in product origination, innovation, sourcing and execution.
According to Copplestone's Linkedin profile, Levendi Financial Products will offer a full product management service including risk analysis, independent valuations and transaction management services.
Contrary to some media reports, Levendi has not yet been launched and has not yet been registered with the Financial Conduct Authority.
Copplestone told SRP that the decision to launch the new boutique will be made by the end of the month as he is considering other options.
Copplestone stepped down from his position at Morgan Stanley in July after five years at the US investment bank. He joined Morgan Stanley as head of European equity derivatives structuring in August 2008, and moved shortly thereafter to Hong Kong. He held a number of roles at the bank in New York and London, including head of structuring for the Americas and head of the firm's retail structured products platform for Europe and the Americas.
Morgan Stanley promoted Copplestone to global head of the bank's retail structured product platform in May 2012.
Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Copplestone was head of Asian equity derivatives structuring at Deutsche Bank and prior to that, head of structuring for Europe.
Copplestone started his career as an equity derivatives trader at Credit Suisse. He then moved to Commerzbank where he worked for five years, first as a trader in equity derivatives and then as head of complex equity derivatives trading.