Standard Chartered Private Bank has confirmed the appointment of Anthony Rawlinson as head of private banking and office manager in Abu Dhabi.

Mr Rawlinson joins from Merrill Lynch Banque Suisse in Dubai, where it is believed he was a vice president.

Standard Chartered has announced aggressive recruitment ambitions recently: the firm intends to hire 100 extra client relationship managers over the next 12 months as part of plans for an ongoing global expansion. The private bank, which currently has 350 relationship managers worldwide, said its recruitment drive was driven by a continuing increase in client demand for its private banking services.

The Asian side of the business was further strengthened by the creation of a new office in Korea earlier this week. Standard Chartered First Bank Korea opened its sixth centre in Apgujung, and is due to open another private banking operation in Dokok-dong this month.