UPDATE 1-Merrill poaches another Smith Barney executive

By Joseph A. Giannone

NEW YORK, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Bank of America Corp's Merrill Lynch, led by former Citigroup Inc executive Sallie Krawcheck, this week poached two more senior managers from rival brokerage Morgan Stanley Smith Barney.

Merrill on named Jimmy Tighe on Friday as a managing director responsible for business and resource integration at the brokerage giant. Tighe, a 30-year financial industry veteran, reports to Lyle LaMothe, head of Merrill's U.S. retail brokerage business.

'Jimmy brings additional senior leadership and deep industry knowledge to our team and will help to us to drive ongoing growth initiatives,' LaMothe said in a statement.

Tighe was a top lieutenant to Morgan Stanley Smith Barney President Charles Johnston, where he headed the New York City region.

Tighe and Johnston were among a handful of Smith Barney executives named to management roles at a joint venture formed when Morgan Stanley acquired control of the Smith Barney brokerage business from Citigroup last April.

The news comes a day after Merrill announced the hire of Kunal Kamlani as head of global investment solutions, reporting to Krawcheck.

Starting next month, Kamlani will be responsible for managing investments sold through Merrill's 15,000 brokers as well as oversee managed-account programs and fund manager screening.

Kamlani also was a former chief operating officer at Smith Barney before he left last June.

Prior to joining Bank of America last September, Krawcheck was chief executive of Citi Global Wealth Management. She also served as CEO of Smith Barney from 2002 through 2004, when she was name Citi's chief financial officer.

Krawcheck last fall hired Citi's Andy Sieg as a top officer responsible for its retirement and philanthropic businesses.

(Reporting by Joseph A. Giannone; editing by Leslie Gevirtz and Andre Grenon) Keywords: MERRILLLYNCH/SMITHBARNEY ([e-mail] [phone]; Reuters Messaging: [e-mail]) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.