The private and commercial banking and wealth management arm of the London-listed Arbuthnot Banking Group is pushing for growth in the South West.

Arbuthnot Latham has hired Robert Salisbury as director, commercial banking for the South West, Colin James as senior commercial banker, and Adrian Midmer as commercial banking executive.

Salisbury joins from Coutts, where he was director, private banking and head of Coutts Exeter. James joins from Barclays, where he was head of the debt team. Midmer joins from RBS, where he was relationship director. 

In their newly-created roles, all three will be based at Arbuthnot’s Exeter headquarters. The commercial banking team will work closely with the firm’s private bankers and wealth managers to serve locally owner-managed and independent businesses. 

“The appointments of Robert Salisbury, Colin James and Adrian Midmer are a further demonstration of our plans to expand our offering in the South West,” said Arbuthnot Latham’s chief executive, Ian Henderson. 

“With other private and commercial banking providers departing Exeter and the South West, Arbuthnot Latham is ideally placed to attract new clients."

Arbuthnot Banking Group recently reported a profit of £225 million ($297 million) for the first six months of 2016, surging from £12.7 million a year earlier.