UBS has appointed a private banking veteran who has worked at firms including Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse, Mark Idriss, as its new head of London International for the Swiss firm’s wealth management arm.

UBS has appointed Mark Idriss, a private banking veteran who has worked at firms including Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse, as its new head of London International for the Swiss firm’s wealth management arm.

Idriss was described by UBS as a “successful business leader and a seasoned campaigner” with over 22 years of experience across both wealth management and investment banking.

He comes with experience in particular of the Middle East and Africa, which puts him in a strong position to serve the London international client community, an important strategic focus for UBS, it said.

Latterly, Idriss was deputy global head of the Middle East and Africa and market head for the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries at Deutsche Bank, based in Zurich and Geneva.

Having initially started his career in investment banking in New York and London, Idriss moved to Zurich and into the wealth management business. He has also previously worked for both Merrill Lynch and HSBC Private Bank, and during his eight years at Credit Suisse he held a number of senior leadership positions, including head of Middle East, Turkey and the Indian-Subcontinent

Idriss will report directly to Andre Cronje, chief executive of UBS Wealth Management UK. Subject to the relevant regulatory approvals, he takes over from Paul Staeheli, who after three years is returning to Zurich to run the UK International business for UBS Wealth Management and also continues to report to Cronje.