Deutsche Bank has appointed Asia Pacific-ex Japan chief executive Robert Rankin to its group executive committee with effect from 1 January, highlighting the importance of the Asia region to the German bank’s business strategy.

Rankin is based in Hong Kong.

“This appointment reflects the bank’s global presence and underlines the strategic importance of the Asia Pacific region as one of our key growth drivers,” said Josef Ackermann, chief management board and group chief executive of the Frankfurt-listed bank and wealth management firm.