Rasheia R. Johnson has left her post as Philadelphia city treasurer to rejoin Siebert Cisneros Shank & Co.
The firm announced Wednesday that Johnson has returned as a managing director in the firm’s Philadelphia office. Johnson, who was Philadelphia treasurer from January 2016 to July 2019, previously
In her new role at SCSCO, Johnson will work in both the capital markets and public finance divisions of the firm, which is the nation’s top minority- and woman-owned investment bank. She will be tasked with spearheading development of new broker-dealer business with pension funds, investment managers, municipalities and other clients across the country along with investment banking deal origination.
"I am excited to rejoin this dynamic and successful team, and I look forward to expanding our business in the Pennsylvania and mid-Atlantic markets," Johnson said in a statement. "There is a lot of opportunity, on both the corporate and public finance side to spearhead major projects that will enormously benefit the region and grow our already considerable footprint."
Mayor Kenney recently tapped Deputy Treasurer Christian Dunbar to succeed Johnson. Dunbar, who like Johnson entered Philadelphia City Hall in January 2016, was previously a wealth manager with Wells Fargo Advisors.
As Philadelphia city treasurer, Johnson oversaw cash management and investments of all city funds along with custodial and commercial banking relationships. She also managed Philadelphia’s $9 billion debt portfolio and was responsible for the issuance of all city bonds.
Johnson managed more than $10 billion in transactions during her more than 15-year career in public finance. Before arriving at SCSCO in 2015, Johnson was vice president at Loop Capital Markets where she was senior manager on several transportation issuances including for the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. Prior to Loop, Johnson spent five years as a financial advisor consultant at Public Financial Management in Philadelphia.
"Rasheia's strong relationships and deep knowledge of the Pennsylvania market and the surrounding region will be of huge value and help us reach even greater heights in leading new issuances, for both corporate and municipal clients," SCSCO CEO and Chairwoman Suzanne Shank said in a statement. "We are thrilled to have her back and leading the way as we increase our market share in this area."
Johnson began her municipal finance career as an assistant to the director of finance and debt management for the city of Philadelphia. The Albright College graduate was named one of The Bond Buyer’s Trailblazing Women in Public Finance in 2017.
SCSCO, which has dual headquarters in New York City and Oakland, ranked second nationwide as a co-manager of municipal bonds issues in 2018, according to Refinitiv. The firm has transacted more than $2 trillion of municipal bonds since its founding in 1996.
"This is a big win for our public finance business, as Rasheia is one of the great talents in the industry and a proven professional," said Gary Hall, partner and head of investment banking at SCSCO. "She rejoins an already very strong team and her experience and knowledge will only make us that much better.”
