KBL European Private Bankers, the parent company of UK-based Brown Shipley, has appointed Marc Lauwers as chief operating officer, based in its Luxembourg office, effective from 1 April.

The hire is subject to approval from the board of directors at KBL and Luxembourg regulator the CSSF.

Lauwers, who has nearly 30 years’ experience in the financial sector, began his professional career in 1984, and has served in a number of managerial roles. Most recently, he was head of retail and commercial banking and a member of the management board at Belfius bank in Belgium.

Prior to this, Lauwers was chief operating officer at Dexia Bank Belgium, before which he was chief executive at Dexia Banka Slovensko - in Slovakia. He held the same position at Banque Artesia Netherlands.

In his new role, Lauwers will serve as a member of KBL epb’s executive committee.

KBL epb has over 2,000 staff and €41 billion ($55 billion) in assets under management, and €39 billion in assets under custody, as of 31 December 2012.