Who hired in the Middle East in December?

Despite the year-end, December was a relatively active month for recruitment, but most new hires were at the very senior end.

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority has hired Benjamin C. Weston as global head of alternative investments. He joins from Helvetica Wealth Management Partners, where he was CEO.

Clyde & Co, the law firm, has taken on Adrian Low as a partner in its banking & finance division in its Dubai office.

Crédit Agricole has named François Edouard Drion as its new managing director in Egypt.

Deutsche Bank has named Salah Jaidah as chairman of its Islamic finance business and Ibrahim Qasim as head of Islamic finance structuring.

Dubai Group, the investment arm of Dubai Holding, has appointed Trevor Regan as its new chief investment officer.

Emirates NBD has named Giel-Jan Van Der Told as group head of wholesale banking. He was formerly CEO at Dubai bank, which was acquired by Emirates NBD in October.

The National Bank of Abu Dhabi has hired Dr Mariah Khan as head of its Velvet Program; its private banking division aimed at female high net worth individuals. It has also named Ghadeer Abu Hijleh as head of private banking for Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.

Lloyds Banking Group has appointed Bobby Liddell as its new head of corporate banking for the Middle East.

MENA Corp, the brokerage firm, has launched a new Dubai office and has named Amjad Bakir as head of securities.

Standard Chartered has unveiled Khalid Elgibaly as its new head of consumer banking for the UAE and the Middle East. He joins from Barclays.

Zurich, the insurance firm, has named Thorsten Kocherscheidt as chief executive for its life business in the Middle East and Africa.