The new hires will be responsible for growing the firm's activities in China.

French banking group Societe Generale has appointed Hugues de La Marnierre as chief executive of Societe Generale China and Pierre-Yves Bonnet as group country head for China.

Based in Beijing, De la Marnierre’s appointment is subject to the approval of the local regulator and authorities. He reports to Bonnet. De la Marnierre had been group country head for Societe Generale in Switzerland since July 2016, a position he held in addition to the previous role as CEO of SG Zurich, which was from September 2013.

During the transition period, Bonnet is acting CEO of Societe Generale China.

In his new role, De la Marnierre will focus on the management and the development of corporate and investment banking activities of Societe Generale in China. 

Bonnet replaces Marion-Bouchacourt. He chairs the board of directors of Societe Generale China and, in addition to governance topics, oversees the group’s activities in China. 

Based in Beijing, Bonnet reports to Hikaru Ogata, CEO for Societe Generale in Asia-Pacific. Bonnet was appointed global head of financial institutions group in April 2012 and formerly had been global head of strategic and acquisition finance since 2008.

While the banking group continues to work with Asian high net worth clients, Societe Generale sold its Asian private banking operations to DBS four years ago, a path trodden by some other European lenders such as Barclays and ABN AMRO in recent years.