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Fitch Ratings is stepping up its commitment to the Canadian market, with the addition of five senior analysts that will cover the financial institutions, structured finance, corporate finance and infrastructure sectors, the New York-based credit rating agency announced Tuesday.

The analysts will work in its Toronto office.

“We are delighted to be adding a strong local analytical presence to our business in Canada,” said Andrew Smitiuch, managing director and head of Fitch Ratings Canada. “The addition of such well-established and experienced analysts across a range of sectors demonstrates our long-term commitment to developing and expanding our footprint in Canada and serving investors and market participants in this core region.”

Foster Cheng, who covers banks and other financial institutions, was previously with GLC Asset Management, and has worked at S&P Global, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and TD Securities (TDSI).

Mario Angastiniotis will focus on Canadian and U.S. based infrastructure transactions and public finance. He was previously a director at S&P Global

Michael Buzanis is joining the rating agency’s structured finance group; he was previously with Moody’s Investors Service, DBRS and TDSI.

Brad Jarman and Michael Ruggirello are joining its corporate finance team, covering the industrial and transportation sectors and the midstream and utility sectors, respectively. Jarman was previously with Scotiabank Global Banking & Markets. Ruggirello was most recently an analyst with Accountability Research Corp., and has previously worked at BMO Capital Markets and Barrington Research Associates, and as a futures trader.