Merrill Lynch has strengthened its wealth operations in the Middle East with a trio of hires.

Leila Alameddine, Shereen Ghobrial and Utku Balik join as market manager for the Levant, regional sales manager and business strategy and initiatives execution manager respectively, with the former based in Beirut and the latter two in Dubai.

Alameddine joins from Audi Saradar Private Bank, where she was an executive manager covering clients in Europe and the Middle East. Prior to this role she worked at Europe Arab Bank as head of private banking for EMEA, based in London, and has also held positions at JP Morgan, Chase Manhattan Bank, Chemical Bank and Arab Bank. In her new role as market manager for the Levant, covering Lebanon, Jordan and Syria, Alameddine will be responsible for growing the wealth management business.

Ghobrial was most recently at Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank as the regional head of wealth management for Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. Prior to this he worked at Deutsche Bank in Cairo as a financial advisor covering Egyptian clients. Other prior roles include country marketing manager at Arab Bank, Egypt.

Both Alameddine and Ghobrial report to Tamer Rashad, head of Middle East for Merrill Lynch Wealth Management.

Lastly, Balik previously worked for Emirates NBD Private Banking in Dubai as head of business development, responsible for business strategy and project management. Prior to this role he worked at McKinsey & Company as a consultant advising companies on strategy, corporate finance and new business development. In his new role Balik will be responsible for leading regional initiatives and project management in areas including strategy and operations. Balik reports to Michael Tolentino, chief operating officer for the firm's wealth management operations in EMEA, and to Rashad.

“Changes taking place in the Middle East provide a dynamic opportunity for the region. We are witnessing a rapidly-growing interest from clients to expand the breadth of their portfolios and increase exposure to international investments,” said Rashad.

Merrill Lynch Wealth Management offers Middle East services in Bahrain, Beirut, Dubai, Geneva, London, Monte Carlo and Riyadh.