Barclays has bolstered its wealth and investment management team in the Middle East and North Africa with two hires.

Chris Cocker and Nicholas Koutsoukos have both been appointed as directors covering the Lower Gulf region with the objective of extending the bank’s wealth and investment management financial solutions to the region.

Cocker joins after having run his own property investment and financial consultancy businesses in the Middle East and UK. Before that, he was a gilt trader at UBS Warburg Investment bank in London.

Koutsoukos transfers to Barclays from Bank of Singapore, where he covered the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean markets as a private banker. Earlier in his career, he held senior positions at various entities including Abraaj Capital and Istithmar World Capital in the United Arab Emirates.

“This expansion is the direct result of an increasing demand for high-level wealth and investment management services in the region,” said Rory Gilbert, head of wealth and Investment management for the MENA region.