Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management has appointed Amir Sadr as head of the Middle East Wealth Management business as it expands its footprint in the region and to support its five-year growth plan.

Mr Sadr will relocate to Dubai and will manage Merrill’s existing Middle East offices, its new office in Riyadh, as well as the ongoing expansion in the region. He will work closely with Makram Zaccour who continues in his advisory capacity as chairman of the Middle East.

Mr Sadr joined Merrill Lynch in 1995 as an Equity Sales Trader and joined GWM in 2004 as sales manager for the London Middle East Offshore office.  

In this role, he was instrumental in launching the Institutional Client Group and in early 2007, he became head of London Middle East Offshore, and the Family Office Group.

Imad El-Aawar will be relocating to Beirut as Resident Director and Jonty Crosse will continue as Resident Director for Merrill’s Bahrain office.

Fred Hilal will continue to be responsible for the Monaco and Geneva offices.

Mark Nixon, head of the family office group, will take on the additional responsibility of the London Middle East Offshore office.

All three will all report to Mr Sadr, who himself will report to Eva Castillo, head of EMEA Wealth Management.