Citi Global Banking has appointed Jing Zhao and Simon Yoo as co-heads of Citi’s Financial Institutions Group (FIG) in Asia Pacific – reported The Asian Banker. Both will report to Farhan Faruqui, head of Asia Pacific Global Banking and be based in Hong Kong.

Ms. Zhao is currently chairman of China Investment Banking and she will also continue in this role with offices in Beijing and Hong Kong. Mr. Simon, head of Financial Entrepreneurs Group in Japan, will relocate to Hong Kong to take up his new position before the end of the year.

Also joining the team is Ashish Bajaj, who joins the FIG team based in Hong Kong as head of Financial Institutions Relationship Management in Asia Pacific, reporting to Mr. Zhao and Ms. Simon. Mr. Bajaj is a 22 year veteran with Citi having worked in New York, London and India, and is currently head of Global Transaction Services, Commercial Bank and Global Subsidiaries Group in India, where he helped develop and grow these businesses significantly.

Farhan Faruqui, said: “Our Financial Institutions Group is one of our most important franchises in the region given the continued capital needs and M&A opportunities for banks in the region. Our leadership team has significant experience in the FIG sector, having worked on numerous capital raising and advisory assignments throughout their careers. We look forward to this team leading the further development of our FIG team across the region as we continue to support our clients with their capital and advisory needs.”