Credit Suisse has announced a new chief executive for Australia, coming shortly after announcing another top-level appointment in the Asia-Pacific region. 

Effective as of 1 February, Rob Stewart assumes the top role in the country in addition to his existing responsibilities as co-head of the investment banking department.

As country CEO, he will be responsible for developing the Swiss bank's entire private banking, wealth management and investment banking capabilities. He will also oversee and maintain all local regulatory relationships.Edward Jewell-Tait still functions as head of private banking in Australia. 

Stewart joined the New York office of Credit Suisse in 1990 and most recently served as managing director and co-head of investment banking in Australia. He spent nine years as a banker in the US, including four years with Merrill Lynch before returning to Australia in 1999.

He succeeds David Livingstone, who is returning to London to assume another senior client role at the firm. Livingstone has been Australia CEO since early 2010.

The announcement comes shortly after Neil Harvey was named chief executive for Hong Kong and co-CEO for Greater China. Harvey shares the China position with Liping Zhang, who retains his position as vice chairman for the global investment banking unit.