HONG KONG • Citigroup said it named Mr Gerald Keefe as its Hong Kong-based head of corporate banking for the Asia- Pacific region, a newly created role.

Mr Keefe, currently head of corporate banking for Japan, will take on responsibilities for Citigroup bankers in the region dealing with companies, financial institutions and public-sector entities, according to a press statement yesterday.

Ms Agnes Liew, another senior corporate banker, has been appointed the region's vice-chairman of corporate banking. Both will commence their new roles in the second quarter, the statement said.

Citigroup is aiming to grow revenues from corporate banking as some European banks reduce their presence in Asia. The US bank's unit offers services in foreign exchange, trade finance, capital markets, structured products and loan clearing.

Mr Keefe joined Citigroup in 2006, became a managing director in 2009, and was named head of banking and origination for the securitised products business in the United States the following year. In 2014, he was appointed to his current role.

Ms Liew will act as a senior adviser on corporate banking, Citigroup said. She has spent 33 years with the bank and has held various roles, including head of corporate banking for Singapore and risk manager for Taiwan and the Association of South-east Asian Nations, before taking her current role as corporate banking head for Asia-Pacific.

BLOOMBERG