Bank Sarasin & Cie, the Swiss private bank, has appointed Gianluca Grissini as head of its Lugano branch, with responsibility for the Italian private banking market.

Grissini, who will report directly to Eric Sarasin, head of the private banking division, has worked at the firm since 2008. Before joining Sarasin he was the founder of advisory firms Compendium and 4Ward Consulting, as well as Lancelot Capital Management, where he was managing director.

In addition to private banking, Sarasin's Lugano branch is heavily involved in business with independent asset managers. This side of the business is managed by Fabio Aragona, who has been appointed as Grissini's deputy.

In related news, Sarasin hired two private bankers, Nicolas Homann and Kilian Jay van Seldeneck, to join its trading family offices division in April.