PrivateBancorp has created a new business line serving individuals and families, under Personal Client Services, appointing Brant Ahrens as president.

Ahrens, who has been with the bank since 2007, takes over responsibility for private wealth services, including trust, investment management and private banking, and will continue to lead the community banking group, including retail, small business and mortgage banking.

The company’s organizational structure now consists of: Personal Client Services, Illinois Commercial Banking, National Commercial Banking and Commercial Real Estate.

Commenting on the developments, Larry Richman, president and chief executive of PrivateBancorp, said that its goal over the last four years had been to establish The PrivateBank as a commercial middle-market firm, and to strengthen its ability to offer banking and wealth management services to individuals and families.

“We will better serve the personal needs of the business owners, executives and employees of our commercial clients by leveraging the combined strengths of our Personal Client Services team," added Richman.

Ahrens has been a key part of these efforts since joining the bank from LaSalle Bank, and its parent company ABN-AMRO, in 2007, the firm said.