Ms d’Ancona joins from Merrill Lynch Banque Suisse where she was Europe regional head and market leader for Switzerland. In that post she was responsible for developing the European and Swiss onshore markets.

She will remain in Geneva for her new role, reporting to Piero Grandi, managing director for Lloyds TSB International Private Banking. As part of her new role Ms d’Ancona will head up the company’s EMEA operations which cover five offices: Zurich, Gibraltar, Monaco, Luxembourg and Dubai.

Last week WealthBriefing exclusively reported that Anthony Rawlinson, who had left Merrill Lynch Banque Suisse in Dubai, had been appointed head of private banking at Standard Chartered.