UniCredit has appointed Kok-Keong Tay as head of its global transaction banking (GTB) arm for the Asia Pacific region.

Based in Hong Kong, Kok-Keong will report globally to UniCredit’s global head of transaction banking, Marco Bolgiani and regionally to executive chairman of corporate and investment banking for Asia Pacific, Samuel Poon.

Kok-Keong will be responsible for leading the bank’s expansion of its commercial banking franchise in the region and extension of its transaction banking footprint and product suite, including cash management, cross-border trade finance and structured trade and export products into new markets.

With over 25 years of experience in retail and commercial banking, Kok-Keong was previously the managing director and regional head of product management in Deutsche Bank’s GTB group.

Bolgiani comments on the appointment: “This is an important first step that signifies our serious intention of growing our commercial banking business in AsiaPacific to complement our already formidable franchise in Europe.”