Allen Returns to Hambrecht & Quist as CFO

Hambrecht & Quist Group, the largest independent investment bank on the West Coast, said Patrick J. Allen, who resigned last month as chief financial officer, has returned. Allen, 36, quit in November, after 3 1/2 years with San Francisco-based Hambrecht, to become president and chief operating officer of Cruttenden Roth, an Irvine-based investment bank for which he used to work. “I never even started there, although unfortunately I moved all my stuff and sold my house,” Allen said. “After thinking it through it made sense to stay. There are big opportunities Hambrecht & Quist has in front of it and I can have a chance to be a big part of the management team.” Allen said he decided to stay after he resigned but was still at Hambrecht working as a consultant and searching for his own replacement. He said he did not ask for or receive more money to stay and he declined to discuss whether there were any promises made about future positions at the company.