Senior Personnel Moves Strengthen Leadership and Add Specialized Capabilities in Key Areas of the Municipal Market
Head of Public Finance Elizabeth (Beth) Coolidge Elected to MSRB Board, Underscoring Strength of Oppenheimer's Public Finance Franchise
NEW YORK, Aug. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. (Oppenheimer), a leading investment bank, wealth manager and subsidiary of Oppenheimer Holdings Inc. (NYSE: OPY), today announced the hiring of Bruce Rideaux as a Managing Director in Public Finance and the promotion of Lauren Carter to Head of Negotiated Underwriting, continuing the firm's expansion of its Public Finance and Municipal Capital Markets businesses.
Rideaux, who is based in Dallas, brings 20 years of experience advising on large, complex project financings and public-private partnerships in Texas, with expertise in the transportation sector. Carter will assume leadership of Negotiated Underwriting following the retirement of Beth Wolchock, formerly Managing Director and Head of Municipal Underwriting, while maintaining her existing responsibilities in competitive underwriting. So far in 2026, the firm is ranked No. 18 in long-term competitive underwriting, up 28 spots from its No. 46 ranking for full-year 2025.**
The transition provides continuity within a key part of Oppenheimer's municipal business while expanding Carter's leadership responsibilities across the platform. The personnel moves also build on a period of continued investment in Oppenheimer's municipal businesses.
Carter joined Oppenheimer in March as part of an expansion that also included Matt Davis, Managing Director, Head of Competitive Municipal Underwriting, and Brendan Shanahan, Managing Director, Municipal Trading. Together, the additions significantly strengthened the firm's underwriting, sales and trading capabilities.
"Bruce's addition and Lauren's expanded leadership role reflect the continued growth of our Public Finance business and the depth we are building across the platform," said Peter Albano, Senior Managing Director and Global Head of Fixed Income at Oppenheimer. "Bruce brings significant experience in complex project finance and public-private partnerships in Texas, while Lauren gives us proven leadership across both negotiated and competitive underwriting."
Adding to the franchise's momentum, Elizabeth (Beth) Coolidge, Head of Public Finance, was recently elected to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) Board of Directors, reflecting her standing in the industry and the leadership Oppenheimer has built within Public Finance. Coolidge will serve a four-year term beginning October 1, 2026. She has led Oppenheimer's Public Finance business since joining the firm in 2024, spearheading an expansion that has increased the firm's senior-managed negotiated par by 200% compared with full-year 2023 levels.**
"Beth's election to the MSRB Board is a well-deserved recognition of the leadership, judgment and experience she has brought to the municipal finance industry throughout her career," said Robert Lowenthal, President and CEO of Oppenheimer. "It also speaks to the strength of the leadership team we have assembled as we continue investing in and expanding our Public Finance franchise."
Rideaux has extensive experience working with complex issuers, including state and local governments, utility systems and transportation organizations, as well as on public-private partnerships. Over the course of his career, he has advised on more than $35 billion in financings, with a particular focus on major infrastructure and transportation projects.
Prior to joining Oppenheimer, Rideaux held positions at Hilltop Securities, PFM Financial Advisors and UBS. He holds a B.A. in Mathematics from The University of Texas at Austin and an M.B.A. in Corporate Finance and Strategy from Southern Methodist University.
Carter has nearly 25 years of municipal experience across competitive and negotiated transactions. Prior to joining Oppenheimer, she was a Managing Director at Janney Montgomery Scott. She has consistently ranked among the leading competitive underwriters nationally.
"Public Finance has strong momentum because we continue to build our business around what our clients need from us," Coolidge said. "As their financing needs have become more complex, we have added experienced people, broadened our capabilities and strengthened our leadership. Bruce's addition and Lauren's expanded role are the latest examples of that investment, positioning us to serve clients at a higher level as our industry continues to evolve."
**(Source: Bloomberg, League Tables, US Municipal Long-Term Competitive).
About Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.
Oppenheimer Holdings Inc., through its Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. subsidiary and related entities, provides a full range of wealth management, securities brokerage and investment banking services to high-net-worth individuals, families, corporate executives, businesses and institutions. For more information, please visit oppenheimer.com.
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SOURCE Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.
