Nov. 26--Merrill Lynch & Co. executive Gene McQuade once again will have a short stay at Bank of America Corp.

After the Charlotte bank's planned acquisition of the New York brokerage giant, McQuade, head of Merrill Lynch's banking operations, will leave the combined company next spring at his request, according to an internal memo Tuesday.

McQuade joined Bank of America in 2004 after the bank bought FleetBoston Financial Corp. but announced his departure less than two months after coming on board. He came to Merrill in February after serving as president of mortgage giant Freddie Mac.

Tuesday's announcement was the latest to outline leadership ranks at the combined company. The memo laid out the rungs beneath Bank of America's Keith Banks -- who will lead Columbia Asset Management, the U.S. Trust private banking unit and alternative investments -- and Merrill Lynch's Bob McCann, who will guide the firm's "Thundering Herd" of financial advisers.

Both will report to Merrill's John Thain, who will preside over the combined wealth management and corporate and investment banking operations.

Banks' top executives include three leaders from Bank of America and one from Merrill. Effective immediately, Banks is also heading U.S. Trust, keeping the post after the merger. He replaces Frances Aldrich Sevilla-Sacasa, who is starting a wealth management unit at investment bank Evercore Partners Inc. Bank of America bought U.S. Trust in 2007 from Charles Schwab Corp. for $3.3 billion.

McCann's top lieutenants include five Merrill executives and one Bank of America official, Dean Athanasia, currently head of premier banking and investments. His responsibilities will include leading Americas Banking and Personal Retirement Solutions, which includes premier banking services for wealthier clients.

Not counting McQuade or transition leaders from both sides, 32 of the 54 executives beneath Thain come from Merrill. Thain will report to Bank of America chief executive Ken Lewis. The deal is expected to close by year's end, pending shareholder approval Dec. 5 and Fed permission.

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