Morgan Stanley’s Bloomer and Hiscox among those missing after the yacht sank

Morgan Stanley International chairman Jonathan Bloomer is among those missing by Italian authorities, along with British technology entrepreneur Mike Lynch, after the luxury yacht they were on sank early Monday off the coast of Sicily.

The head of Sicily’s civil protection agency, Salvo Cocina, said in a message to Bloomberg that the six passengers still missing are Bloomer and his wife Judy, Clifford Chance partner Chris Morvillo and his wife Nada, and Lynch and his daughter Hannah. .

At least one of the 12 guests and 10 crew aboard the yacht Bayesian died after a tornado hit the ship near Porticello. Lynch and his family were on board with a small group of financial and legal advisers celebrating the tycoon’s recent acquittal on fraud charges when the violent storm hit.

Bloomer, 70, has worked in the financial industry for five decades. He has been chairman of Morgan Stanley’s European business since 2018 and last year was appointed to lead the board of British insurer Hiscox Ltd. He is a friend of Lynch and was a witness for the defense in the long legal battle with Hewlett Packard.

Attorney Morvillo served as co-counsel for Lynch, successfully defending him against criminal charges that he tricked HP into overpaying for his software firm, Autonomy Corp.

Morgan Stanley and Hiscox said in separate statements that they were “shocked and saddened” by the news and were awaiting further developments. Clifford Chance declined to comment.

From 1995 to 2005, Bloomer held senior positions at Prudential Plc – first as the company’s Chief Financial Officer and later as its Chief Executive Officer. He left after clashing with shareholders over a decision to raise money through a rights offering to help fund expansion in the UK rather than Asia.

As of Monday, Italy’s coast guard was leading search and rescue operations and had recovered 15 people, according to Camper & Nicholsons, the managers of the 56-meter (184-foot) yacht.

Photo: Jonathan Bloomer, chairman of Morgan Stanley and Hiscox; Photo credit: Andy Shaw/Bloomberg

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