Equities boss D'Souza plans to leave Merrill -WSJ

NEW YORK, March 21 (Reuters) - Rohit D'Souza, the global head of equities and alternative investments at Merrill Lynch MER.N, is planning to leave the New York investment bank, The Wall Street Journal said on Friday.

D'Souza, who joined Merrill from rival brokerage Morgan Stanley (MS.N) in 2004, is traveling until the end of the month and is still employed by Merrill, according to a person who answered his office phone, the article said.

Merrill insiders and executives familiar with Wall Street said D'Souza could be persuaded to stay if offers of pay or prestige were made, the Journal said.

Merrill officials could not immediately be reached for comment. (Reporting by Ransdell Pierson; editing by Leslie Adler)