Wealth manager and broking firm WH Ireland has said it in talks to acquire part of the UK corporate finance arm of an American financial services firm which formerly employed its chief executive.

WH Ireland said this morning it was “in discussions” with Cantor Fitzgerald regarding the “possible acquisition, transfer or introduction” of some of its mid-cap and AIM corporate finance business.

Phillip Wale, who was appointed chief executive of WH Ireland in 2018, worked for Cantor Fitzgerald between 2016 and 2018 as head of fixed income for Europe.