Lugano-based BSI, which is owned by Italy’s Generali Group, has made a number of top-level appointments for Asia as it continues its expansion drive in the region.

Esther Heer is named the firm’s new deputy chief executive of BSI Asia and chief executive of BSI Investment Advisors (Hong Kong) responsible for Private Wealth Advisory North Asia. Ciro Ahmad is named as chief operating officer of BSI Investment Advisors (Hong Kong), an SFC-licensed investment advisory company concentrating on private wealth advisory, the bank said in a statement.

Heer brings to the role more than 30 years' experience in wealth management. She will continue to be based in Hong Kong, where the last two decades of her career have been. Ahmad will also be based in Hong Kong, where he has 10 years experience at a high level in the private banking sector in the areas of investment, risk and branch management. He has also worked in Geneva and London.

“Within its international growth strategy policy, which helped the bank boost its presence in high-growth potential markets, BSI is currently exploring any additional strategic option to further strengthen its presence in North Asia in order to fully exploit the whole potential of the market,” it said.

"Our strategy in Asia is to bring to our clients not only experience and knowledge of wealth management issues but also a deep understanding of the region and each of its markets; these are very important appointments and developments which are consistent with BSI's client-centric strategy,” said Hanspeter Brunner, CEO of BSI Asia and BSI Bank Singapore, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BSI.

Both of the new appointees will report to Brunner, a spokesperson for the bank told this publication.

In Asia, BSI is present in Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai.

The bank has embarked on a number of moves to step up its Asian presence. A bank which was set up in Lugano as far back as 1873, it reportedly aims to triple its assets under management to $10 billion in that region by 2015.