Charles Howard and John Kempf joined the energy sector of institutional broker dealer R.W. Pressprich & Co., the firm said March 25.

Howard joined as managing director and a co-head of high yield/distress trading, and as an energy trader.

He has more than 20 years’ experience in credit buyside and sellside, and in securities.

Previously, Howard managed trading desks at RBC Capital Markets, Pali Capital and Global Hunter Securities LLC.

He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a master’s of business administration from Monmouth University.

John Kempf joined as managing director and senior desk analyst.

He has 28 years’ experience in finance, and spent 22 covering credit buyside and sellside. Previously, he worked for RBC Capital Markets, Barclays Capital Inc., Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) and Prudential.

Kempf has a bachelor’s degree from Bryant University, a master’s degree from the University of Rhode Island and a master’s in business administration from New York University.

R. W. Pressprich & Co. is based in New York.