ARLINGTON, Va., June 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- FBR Capital Markets Corporation (Nasdaq: FBCM) (FBR Capital Markets), a leading investment bank serving the middle market, today announced hires within Investment Banking. Robert Hallett joins the firm's Energy & Natural Resources group to oversee the Houston office; Joseph Giacobbe joins the Diversified Industrials group in Arlington; and David Grove joins the Technology, Media & Telecom group in San Francisco.

"We continue to invest in our core businesses and take advantage of opportunities to broaden our banking platform with seasoned professionals and new sector coverage," said James C. Neuhauser, CFA, Executive Vice President and Head of Investment Banking at FBR Capital Markets. "These professionals have a sophisticated understanding of trends and nuances within their respective industries, and their transactional expertise will expand capabilities for existing clients and create opportunities for new ones."

Mr. Hallett has spent the past 21 years focusing on the energy and natural resources industry and joins FBR Capital Markets from RBC Capital Markets where he was a managing director within the firm's Energy Investment Banking practice and Mergers & Acquisitions group for the past nine years. He began his career in private practice with Parlee McLaws LLP, facilitating a variety of corporate and securities-related transactions for energy companies. He later worked within Chevron Canada Resources' land department before joining BJ Services Company as its senior attorney. He subsequently served as general counsel for Transalta Corporation. Mr. Hallett received a Bachelor of Science in geology with honors from the University of Alberta and holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Calgary. His expertise complements FBR Capital Markets' Energy & Natural Resources coverage of the oil and gas exploration and production, oilfield services, midstream and coal sectors.

With 12 years of investment banking experience, Mr. Giacobbe joins FBR Capital Markets from Banc of America Securities where he was a managing director within its Aerospace, Defense & Transportation group. He began his investment banking career with Merrill Lynch's Global Industries group focusing on aerospace and defense companies. Mr. Giacobbe received a Bachelor of Science in economics from the United States Naval Academy and an MBA with honors from Columbia Business School. Prior to his investment banking career, he spent five years in the United States Navy as an officer aboard a fast attack nuclear submarine. Specializing in aerospace and defense companies, Mr.