Morgan Stanley top media banker to run Asia M&A

NEW YORK, April 3 (Reuters) - Morgan Stanley (MS.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Thursday it will send its global head of media and communications mergers, Scott Matlock, to Hong Kong as its top dealmaker for Asia, the latest example of Wall Street deploying its best and brightest to the region's fast-growing markets.

Matlock, a 42-year-old banker based in London, was named to the new role of Asia M&A chairman. Morgan Stanley said he has distinguished himself as "one of the firm's most prolific M&A practitioners."

The head global media job will not be filled immediately, a spokesman said. Managing Directors Jean Abergel, 39, and Dexter Goei, 36, were named co-heads of media and communications deals in Europe.

Matlock, who joined Morgan Stanley in 1988, has run global media M&A for the past two years. His key deals include BSkyB's (BSY.L: Quote, Profile, Research) acquisition of an ITV (ITV.L: Quote, Profile, Research) stake; Warburg Pincus-Cinven's purchases of Essent Kablecom and Casema; and the formation of Liberty Global (LBTYA.O: Quote, Profile, Research) through the merger of United Global Communications and Liberty Media International. (Reporting by Joseph A. Giannone, editing by Dave Zimmerman)