Yakub Mathew has been hired by Citi Private Bank in New York as managing director and private banker based in New York City to focus on South Asian clients. He will report to Charles Merrill, New York regional executive for Citi Private Bank.

Mathew joins from HSBC in New York where he had been the national head of South Asian banking since 2002. With HSBC since 1995, he spent seven years in Saudi Arabia as head of the expatriate banking division, having begun his Citibank career in Manila.

"Yakub's extensive international experience and success managing a business will be an excellent addition to our franchise in New York where he will partner closely with our Private Bank colleagues in India to serve many of our South Asian clients who also have a significant presence in New York through their families and businesses," Merrill said in a statement.