Who hired in the Middle East in June?

If new operations and senior or strategic hires are anything to go by, there were many reasons to feel optimistic in June. Investment banking, wealth management, and insurance were all more active than at most points during this year.

Al Bashayer Investment Company, a wealth management firm targeted at women, has kick-started its UAE operations.

Al Mal Capital, the regional investment bank, is expanding its Saudi operation by offering a broad range of advisory activities including underwriting, and arranging placement and public offerings.

Canara Bank, India's third largest bank, has entered the Middle East through its new representative office in Saudi. It plans to expand into the UAE and other areas of the region.

Capital IQ, the financial information provider, has entered the Middle East through a new DIFC-based operation.

Charles Russell, the law firm, has made some more hires for its Bahrain office. Nicholas Polley, a specialist in banking and finance with expertise in Sharia financing joins along with Sherif Hampton, a corporate commercial lawyer.

Citigroup has appointed Mazin Manna as its new chief executive officer for Bahrain. His role encompasses investment, corporate and consumer banking activities in the kingdom.

Citi Private Bank has unveiled Thierry Martin as team leader and senior banker covering the Gulf region, with a primary focus on Qatar and Kuwait. He will, however, be based out of Geneva.

Deutsche Bank has unveiled some GCC expansion strategies this month. The bank announced the appointment of Nasim Ahmed as regional head for global south Asia, for the Middle East and Pakistan in its private wealth management division, based out of Dubai. It also expanded its custody services in Saudi.

EFG Hermes, the regional investment bank, has further increased its Middle East footprint by opening an office in Jordan. This follows the new operation in Syria, which was kick-started last month.

Gulf International Bank has unveiled Abdel Al-Mangour as managing director for its merchant banking operations in Dubai.

HC Securities and Investment, the MENA investment bank, has hired Moataz Kandil as CEO and managing director of its GCC operations, based out of Dubai.

HSBC has named Mohammad Al Tuwaijri as head of global banking and markets for the MENA region. He joins from J.P. Morgan where he was most recently managing director and head of Saudi Arabia.

Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management has hired Gabriel Aractingi as managing director and head of sales for the Middle East, based out of Dubai.

The National Bank of Abu Dhabi has unveiled Suvo Sarkar as general manager of its consumer and elite banking division. It also has a new head of project finance advisory in Nathan Weatherstone.

Natixis Global Associates, the distribution arm of the asset manager, has hired Sami Abdo as senior sales director for the Middle East.

Nasdaq Dubai has completed the appointment of a new board of directors, following its acquisition by Dubai Financial Market last month, with Abdul Wahed Al Fahim as chairman.

Oriental Insurance Company, the Indian firm, is expanding its Middle Eastern presence by opening a new Qatar office.

PricewaterhouseCoopers has increased its Saudi presence with the appointment of new partners - Ron McMillan, who will leader the operation from the kingdom, Sami Farah is country senior partner, markets.

Standard Chartered has continued its recruitment of senior Middle East figures with the appointment of Christos Papadopoulos as regional CEO for the MENA region.

UBS has hired Anthony Iliya to lead its MENA operations based in Dubai. He joins from Credit Suisse.

Zurich International Life has continued its Middle East push with the appointment of Philip Story as head of sales and Steven Greenfield as head of marketing for the region.