Société Générale has recruited Thierry d’Argent, known as one of France’s best-dressed dealmakers, as part of an aggressive push by the bank to expand its M&A advisory business outside of its home market.

Mr d’Argent, 43, will join a new M&A committee at the bank, headed by Michel Payan, global head of M&A, and has been charged with finding 20 senior sector bankers and 15 M&A specialists to join the new initiative.