Morgan Stanley named 184 new managing directors. Here's everything we know about the class of high-powered execs.

"The Wall Street bank on Wednesday announced the appointment of 184 new managing directors - a roughly 6% increase from last year's class of 173 MDs. At Morgan Stanley, managing director is the firm's highest designation. The announcement comes amid the annual promotion season on Wall Street and follows Goldman Sachs' November elevation of more than 600 managing directors, part of a biennial process at the rival firm."

"The size of each of Morgan Stanley's annual MD classes has fluctuated. In 2024, the bank named 155 managing directors. In 2023, it also appointed 184; and in 2022, it elevated 199. Seventy percent of the newly appointed execs work in a revenue-generating capacity, interacting with clients and making the bank money, while 30% work in middle- and back-office or corporate functions."

"The promotions come after a strong year for the firm's dealmaking business. Morgan Stanley finished third on the worldwide M&A financial advisory league tables, according to LSEG, trailing only Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan. It ended the year advising on more than $1 trillion in deal value across more than 400 transactions, LSEG's December data show. Across Wall Street, headhunters and investment bankers have told Business Insider in recent weeks that they expect 2026 to generate robust activity in mergers and the capital markets."

Morgan Stanley elevated 184 professionals to managing director, a roughly 6% increase from the prior class of 173. Managing director represents the firm's highest designation. Annual MD class sizes have varied: 155 in 2024, 184 in 2023, and 199 in 2022. Seventy percent of the new MDs work in revenue-generating roles that interact with clients, while 30% are in middle- and back-office or corporate functions. The promotions follow a strong dealmaking year in which Morgan Stanley ranked third on global M&A advisory tables and advised on more than $1 trillion across over 400 transactions. Forty-eight percent of the new MDs came from the Institutional Securities Group.

Read at Business Insider