US lending giant Washington Mutual (WaMu) has hired the former general counsel (GC) of stricken investment bank Bear Stearns. It named Michael Solender as its executive vice president and chief legal officer earlier this month (4 June).

Solender will take on responsibility for overseeing the company’s legal, compliance and government relations functions, reporting to chief executive Kerry Killinger. He also becomes a member of the group’s executive committee.