Who hired in the Middle East in April?

There were signs of life within the international banks in the Middle East this month, but much of the recruitment was largely replacement hiring or very senior appointments.

Alpen Capital, the Middle Eastern investment bank, has named Edward Villiers, global head of financial institution sales and head of global markets at Rabobank, as a member of its board of directors.

Arab Banking Corporation has named Dr Khaled Kawan, its deputy chief executive, as acting president and chief executive as it looks for a permanent successor to Hassan Ali Juma.

Carnegie Asset Management has named Marc Foss principal representative of its new office in the Dubai International Financial Centre.

Coutts has named another senior banker in the Middle East with the appointment of Michael Dismorr as managing director. He was previously with Deutsche Bank.

Deutsche Bank has hired Harold Leenen as its new regional head of global transaction banking for the Middle East and Africa.

Morgan Stanley has appointed Sammy Kayello as its new chief executive and chairman of its Middle East and North Africa (MENA) business. He replaces Kamal Jabre, who is relocating to London.

The National Bank of Abu Dhabi has hired Alex Thursby as its new group chief executive, replacing Michael Tomlin, who retired. Thursby joins from the international and institutional banking division of ANZ, where he was CEO.

Neuberger Berman, the asset management firm, has named Fahmi Abdulhamid as vice president of MENA distribution. He joins from Franklin Templeton.

QInvest has hired Michael Katounas as its new head of investment banking. He joins from Credit Suisse, where he was a director in its Dubai-based investment banking division.

Shuaa Capital has named Kamel Alumajjed as the chairman of its Saudi Arabian subsidiary. He was previously with Banque Saudi Fransi.