Anooshian, who is to focus on both high and ultra high net worth Middle Eastern clients, joins from HSBC Private Bank, where he was based in London as the co-head of the Saudi Arabia team and team director of the Middle East and North Africa desk. In his prior career Anooshian spent 26 years with JP Morgan working in international capital markets and private banking, focusing on Middle Eastern and East Mediterranean clients.

In his new role Anooshian reports to Tamer Rashad, head of Middle East wealth management, and Adam Horowitz, head of UK and Ireland wealth management.

In another significant recent appointment, nearly a month ago Merrill Lynch Wealth Management named Mario Alini as acting chief executive and general manager of Merrill Lynch Bank Switzerland, succeeding Patrick Ramsey, who recently moved to head up the Switzerland team at Barclays Wealth.

Alini joined Merrill Lynch in 2007 as chief administration officer of capital markets for Switzerland and will continue in this role while carrying out his new responsibilities. Alini will divide his time between Geneva and Zurich, reporting to David Jervis, head of EMEA wealth management.