Commenting on the appointment, the bank, which is listed in Zurich, said Dubai remains one of its "most important strategic locations".

EFG International today said it has appointed Ranjit Khanna (main picture) as chief executive of its Dubai Advisory Office, effective tomorrow. He formerly was DIFC chief executive at Bank of Singapore.

Under the strategic leadership of Soha Nashaat, executive chairwoman of EFG International Middle East, Khanna will help deliver EFG’s “growth ambitions for the UAE”, EFG said in a statement today.

In his new role, Khanna will report to Patrick Ramsey, head of Continental Europe and Middle East. 

At Bank of Singapore, Khanna led its private banking business serving clients across the Middle East, Europe and Global South Asia. He has more than three decades of international private banking experience, including senior leadership roles at Swiss and international financial institutions across Asia and the Middle East. A Singaporean national, Khanna began his banking career in New York.

“His deep regional experience, leadership capabilities and proven track record make him an excellent choice to lead our Dubai Advisory Office. Dubai remains one of EFG’s most important strategic locations, and I am confident that, working closely with Soha Nashaat and our wider regional leadership team, Ranjit will continue to strengthen our franchise in the UAE and contribute to the successful execution of our broader Middle East strategy,” Ramsey said. 

Nashaat added: “Dubai is central to EFG’s long-term ambitions in the Middle East and continues to play a pivotal role in our regional growth strategy.”

EFG’s Dubai Advisory Office opened in 2019 and employs more than 60 professionals serving private banking clients across the region. 

There were media reports in late April that Khanna was moving to EFG but the Zurich-listed bank did not comment on the matter at that time.