Graeme Wheeler announces plans to leave development institution.

Chatham House has announced that Suzan Sabancı Dinçer, chairman and executive board member of Akbank, is joining the Chatham House panel of senior advisers.

South Africa’s president Jacob Zuma has named former deputy governor Gill Marcus as the new governor of the country’s central bank. Marcus will take over from Tito Mboweni in November.

DLA Piper has appointed Abdul Aziz Al-Yaqout to the role of office managing partner for Kuwait. Al-Yaqout, a Kuwaiti national, will relocate to Kuwait from DLA Piper’s Cologne office.

Lukas Ruflin has been appointed deputy CEO of EFG International, returning from EFG Financial Products which he co-founded in 2007. In his new role, he will focus on further development and execution of the firm’s strategy, working closely with CEO Lawrence Howell and his colleagues in the executive committee.

Troika Dialog, one of the leading Russian investment banks, has appointed Paolo Zaniboni as head of the company’s London office. In addition, Zaniboni, who has been with Troika since June 2007, will continue his work as head of research.

Japanese bank Nomura has hired Selim Toker from UBS as head of its global finance solutions team for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, according to an internal memo.

First National Bank of Botswana Limited (FNBB) has appointed Lorato Boakgomo-Ntakhwana as CEO of the bank. She will be the first Motswana woman to hold this position.

Barclays Capital has hired 450 bankers to strengthen its equity business in Europe and Asia since the autumn, as it aims to become a top three player in Europe by 2011. It is 18th in European ECM league tables at present.

Global Wealth Management Group (GWM) has announced that Shawn Mofidi has been elected chairman of the wealth management and family office services division of the firm.

The Russian government has hired one of the country's most influential investment bankers to informally consult state-run companies over acquisitions abroad, according to banking sources.

The Middle East’s bond machine has started rolling this year with major issuance from fixed income darling Saudi Arabia, and analysts reckon the region is set for a decent year in the capital markets.