HONG KONG - CITIGROUP Inc said on Monday it was naming two senior executives to lead its Asia Pacific operations after the previous head of the region resigned.

Mr Stephen Bird and Mr Shirish Apte will serve as chief executive officers of the region, with Bird overseeing Northern Asia and Apte directing Southern Asia, the US bank said in a statement.

Mr Bird, 42, has led Citi's North Asia and consumer banking businesses. Mr Apte, 56, shifts to Asia after leading the company's operations in Central and Eastern Europe.

The two replace Mr Ajay Banga, who stepped down last month to join MasterCard as president and chief operating officer.

Citi also announced the appointment of Mr Shengman Zhang as chairman of its Asia Pacific unit. Mr Zhang, 52, was previously vice-chairman of global banking and the region's president.

Citigroup's Asia unit accounted for about 30 per cent of its US$52.8 billion (S$76.95 billion) revenues in 2008, the company said. -- AP