HSBC has appointed Francesca McDonagh as regional head of retail banking and wealth management for the Middle East and North Africa, media reports said.

McDonagh will be based in Dubai, and comes to the region from Hong Kong, where she had been head of personal financial services since 2009.

Simon Cooper, HSBC's CEO for MENA, said: "The experience of managing Hong Kong, where HSBC operates one of the world's most sophisticated and high quality retail banks, will be invaluable in taking the MENA business forward.

Prior to Hong Kong, McDonagh was head of personal financial services in Panama at HSBC a position she held from January 2007. She was responsible for the overall retail banking strategy in Panama following HSBC's acquisition of Grupo Banistmo in 2006. She joined HSBC in 1997.

As previously reported, HSBC Bank Middle East appointed Hussain al-Abdullah as head of retail banking and wealth management in Qatar. He has been at the firm since 1999.