Barclays has strengthened its corporate banking division in Asia Pacific with the appointment of Louise Taylor as head of its financial institutions group (FIG).

Taylor replaces Gwynne Master, who after six years as managing director, head of Asia corporate FI business, is leaving the bank to pursue other opportunities outside of the region.

Commenting on the news, Taylor says that she’s “excited about the opportunities this fast-growing region holds”. She adds: “My focus is on leveraging the Barclays corridor to help our Asia Pacific clients do business efficiently in the UK and Europe, along with Africa, another region with huge growth potential.”

Taylor will take up her new role, moving from London to Singapore, later this month and will be reporting to David Scola, head of banks, FIG, corporate banking at Barclays.

Asia Pacific is a key transaction banking area of focus for the bank and Scola says: “Louise’s appointment will allow us to take another step in our journey to become the ‘go to’ bank for FIG transactional banking clients, in what is an important global business for the Barclays group.”

Taylor has been at the bank for 12 years and moves from her current position as the head of clients solutions, FIG, corporate banking.