Dominion Bond Rating Service has opened an office in New York City, its second office in the United States.

In August 2003, DBRS opened its first U.S. office in Chicago. The Chicago office is currently staffed by four analysts, with a focus on U.S.-based CMBS transactions.

The New York office is staffed by a team of professionals dedicated to all other U.S.-based structured finance transactions.

Leading the U.S. Conduit, Financial Guaranty, and Mortgage Insurance Group will be Andrew Jones, in the role of senior VP. Prior to joining DBRS, Jones was with Security Guaranty Holdings, Duff & Phelps Credit Rating Co., and Moody’s.

Leading the balance of the U.S. Structured Finance Group will be Michael Nelson, senior VP. Nelson was with Fitch Ratings and Duff & Phelps Credit Rating Co., as well as The Money Store, J.P. Morgan Securities, and Drexel Burnham Lambert.

The New York office will also be staffed by Susan Kulakowski, chief knowledge officer Mortgage-Backed Securities; Quincy Tang, VP focusing on the rating of sub-prime mortgage transactions; Ken Higgins, VP focusing on rating all other mortgage-related transactions; and, Chris O’Connell, VP focusing on the rating of all non-mortgage asset-backed securities transactions.