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.

VocaLink, an international payment transaction specialist, has appointed Claire Hafner to its board as CFO. Hafner will be responsible for all aspects of the company’s financial management, including the accounting, commercial, procurement, legal, and risk and compliance functions.

Bahrain's Investcorp has announced that Mohammed Al-Shroogi, Citigroup's former managing director for the Middle East and CEO for Citi in the UAE, has resigned and will join Investcorp as head of its Gulf activities.

Armajaro Asset Management has appointed Michel Danechi to manage a new emerging markets hedge fund which was launched earlier this year.
 

On September 1, David Law will join Standard Chartered as the managing director and regional head of the origination and client coverage (OCC) team for the Middle East and North Africa (Mena). Law will report to V. Shankar, member of the Standard Chartered group management committee and group head of origination and client coverage.

Standard Chartered has appointed Tee Choon Hong as managing director, regional head of capital markets for North East Asia. Tee is based in Hong Kong and will report directly to Christian Wait, global head of capital markets.

The Bank of New York Mellon (BNYM) has further strengthened its treasury services operations across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), with new appointments in Brussels, Frankfurt, Cairo and London.

Christopher Williams, Citigroup's global co-head of FIG, is leaving the bank to become vice-chairman of EMEA investment banking at Credit Suisse.
 

Emaar Properties is creating over 1,600 new jobs in its shopping malls & retail and hospitality & leisure businesses. With the new addition, Emaar will have nearly 4,000 employees on its rolls in Dubai.

UBS has appointed Armen Papazian as head of Islamic finance based in the firm's DIFC branch in the UAE.

Europe Arab Bank has announced the appointment of a new head of credit.