Who hired in the Middle East in May?

Wealth management continues to be the most active sector for recruitment in the GCC, but there have been a number of high-profile appointments elsewhere in May.

A.M. Best, the insurance ratings agency, has opened a new office in the DIFC, naming Vasilis Katsipis as general manager – market development.

Barclays has named Alexander Harrison as head of debt finance for the UAE and GCC as it looks to bolster its corporate banking function in the region.

Bank of Montreal is expanding its investment banking and asset management services into the Middle East with the opening of a new office in the Abu Dhabi.

Coutts has continued its regional expansion with the appointment of Ali Hammad as co-head of the Middle East. He’ll be based in London, however, leading the Middle Eastern operation with Amir Sadr, who is in Dubai.

The Dubai Financial Services Authority has named Ian Johnston as its new chief executive, replacing Paul M Koster.

Emirates NBD has named Mohammed Kamran Wajid as CEO of its investment banking unit, Emirates NBD Capital.

Fajr Capital has appointed Adib Abdullah AlZamil as an independent director and chairman of its board.

FH Securities, the brokerage arm of Finance House, hired Ayman Alkhatib as general manager.

Lombard Odier, the private bank, has hired four relationship managers in the GCC. Giridhar Bhatia, joins as senior vice president from Credit Suisse, Arif Al Suwaid has been appointed vice president as have Pradip Gupta and Yazen Abu Gulal. All join from Emirates NBD.

The National Bank of Abu Dhabi has named George Beatty as general manager of its consumer and elite banking division. It's also understood to have appointed Azhar Dogar as chief risk officer, corporate and investment banking division.

RSA Insurance has named Saju George as consumer director, managing the personal lines of business for the UAE, and Phabiola Menon as trading leader.

Standard Chartered has named a new regional head of origination and client coverage in Morad Mahlouji. He replaces David Law who moved to Johannesburg to lead the bank’s African corporate finance unit.