Fouad Batshon, formerly at HSBC Private Bank, has joined Julius Baer in a senior role at the bank's Middle East desk in Geneva, this publication has learned.

Before joining the Swiss private bank, Batshon was head of Egypt for HSBC's Middle East and North Africa team.

Julius Baer has ambitious growth targets for the Middle East, and Remy Bersier, a member of the bank’s executive board, singled out the region when speaking to Arabian Business in March. The bank's goal is to double in assets under management in the Middle East in the next few years, Bersier was quoted as having said.

In other recent developments at the Swiss private bank, Raymond Baer stepped down from his role as chairman at the annual general meeting earlier this month. Baer has been associated with the bank that bears his family name for almost 25 years. Daniel Sauter, a board member since 2007, has succeeded him.