For the time of year, the number of new hires announced in the Middle East financial sector was relatively modest, with a focus on wealth management or very senior recruitment.

Barclays has unveiled Kersi Patel as head of trade and working capital. He joins from HSBC.

Barclays Wealth has announced the appointment of Faisal Shaker as head of wealth for Saudi Arabia. He joins from Audi Capital Saudi Arabia.

Citigroup has unveiled Elissar Farah Antonios as chief executive of its Lebanese operation, with responsibility for its corporate and investment banking business.

Deloitte has named 13 new partners and hired or promoted 17 new principals and director for its Middle East operations across five different business areas.

Dubai Islamic Bank has named Mohamed Al Falasi as SVP, head of central operations.

Ernst & Young has announced that Toby Stokes is its new aviation sector leader for Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa. He will be based in the Middle East.

The Islamic Bank of Asia has named Saleh Al Nashwan as chief representative of its new Bahrain office.

Mashreq has announced the appointment of four UAE nationals – Younis Al Ansaro, Amna Mohammed, Moath Shaker Mohamed and Abdul Rhaman Al Khadr – as branch managers.

Morgan Stanley has named Klaus Froehlich and Amr Diab as co-heads of its MENA investment banking division.

The National Bank of Abu Dhabi has hired Michael Aissaoui as the head of mergers and acquisitions. He joins from Société Générale in Paris and has a mandate to expand the division.

Pictet, the Swiss private bank, has named a new management team for its Dubai office. Allard J. Lugard has taken the role of head of wealth management for the Middle East, Omar Mirza is its new head of asset management business development and Kouroche Achtari is the firm’s representative with the local authorities.

Robeco has named Graham Elliot as its new chief executive for the Middle East. He will be based in the firm’s new DIFC office.

Shuaa Capital has named Sabah Hamad Al-Sabah Al-Binali as vice chairman of Gulf Finance Corporation, its credit finance unit.

VTB Capital, the Russian investment bank, has named Makram Abboud as chief executive for the Middle East and Africa region. He joins from Nomura.