Thomas Weisel Banks on His Reputation to Bring Deals to Stifel

Thomas Weisel is betting that his four decades as a Silicon Valley dealmaker can help him build the Midwestern investment bank Stifel Financial Corp. into a bigger force in acquisitions and initial public offerings.

Weisel, 69, took the role of Stifel’s co-chairman last month after the company bought his old firm, Thomas Weisel Partners Group Inc., for almost $200 million. His new job: parlaying his connections into more underwriting and advisory deals for his employer. Stifel makes much of its money helping customers issue stock, raise debt, and buy and sell companies.