Barclays is looking to significantly expand its presence in Switzerland, in a move that coincides with the firm's reshuffle of top-line management.

Barclays Bank in Switzerland is looking to take its number of relationship managers in wealth management from 57 to between 70 and 80 during the course of 2012, the firms says, coinciding with the news that Barclays Wealth has made changes to its top-line management structure.

Patrick Ramsey, general manager of Barclays in Switzerland, told a media briefing earlier this week that the private banking push in Switzerland follows a successful 2011, a spokesperson said. 

The UK bank’s Swiss business added 14 relationship managers to its wealth management operation last year. The bank also increased assets under management by “a low double-digit percentage” to SFr18 billion (about $19 billion), the spokesperson added.

The success of the firm in building assets is striking, coming as it does amid what has been a tough market for banks in Switzerland due to the revenue-sapping effects of a strong Swiss franc, low interest rates and the constant pressure exerted on the Alpine state's bank secrecy laws.

Separately, Barclays Wealth in the UK has invested in a refurbishment of its office in Edinburgh. The grand opening of the upgraded office on Melville Crescent earlier this week was attended by Scotland’s First Minister, Alex Salmond.

As reported elsewhere today by this publication, Mitch Cox, who had combined leadership of Barclays Wealth Americas with heading global research and investments (GR&I), will solely concentrate on building the US business. Leadership of the GR&I function will be split between Tom Lee, head of global banking and investment solutions (GBIS), BWA, and Rob Brown, who will continue as head of GBIS, UK, EMEA and Asia. They have been appointed as co-heads of global research and join Barclays Wealth’s management committee.