Twitter hires former Goldman Sachs banker as CFO 

The Goldman Sachs banker who took social media platform Twitter public has been hired to be in charge of its finances.

Anthony Noto, the former US bank’s co-head of telecoms, media and technology, has been recruited as part of Twitter’s board reshuffle designed to soothe fears about slowing growth.

Mr Noto will receive a basic salary of $250,000 and receive 1.5m restricted Twitter shares and an option to buy 500,000 more. At Tuesday’s price the stock grant is worth around $63.7m and the option is worth just over $21m.

Mr Noto was the lead banker on Twitter’s November initial public offering in November 2013 on the New York Stock Exchange. A keen twitter user, Mr Noto tweeted “Phew” after the company began trading and successfully avoided the trading glitches that afflicted rival social media site Facebook’s IPO.

In May it was announced that Mr Noto had left Goldman Sachs for technology-focused US hedge fund Coatue Management but had yet to start the job.

Twitter’s chief executive, Dick Costolo, tweeted his welcome to Mr Noto while the former banker rote “I could not be more excited about joining the @Twitter team and helping them reach every person in the world. #indispensable”.

It is the second time Mr Noto has used the hashtag indispensable, previously taking to the social media site to bid Goldman farewell.

“I will miss the best TMT team in the world #indispensable #forevergrateful.”

Mr Noto, 46, started at Goldman Sachs as a technology focused equity analyst during the dotcom boom but left for a stint as chief financial officer of America’s National Football League. He returned to the bank in 2010.

Mr Noto will replace Mike Gupta, who will become senior vice-president of Twitter’s investments next month.

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