The Liechtenstein-based bank said the new hire has more than 15 years' experience in the field. At present, he is director of financial services for KPMG in Zurich. The bank has, among other moves, been pushing into the Asia-Pacific wealth management field.

VP Bank has named Markus Rohner - a Swiss citizen - as head of internal audit from the start of September this year.

Rohner’s appointment is subject to the approval of the Liechtenstein Financial Market Authority (FMA), the banking group, which operates in a number of jurisdictions, said. 

A financial services expert with over 15 years of experience in the audit and advisory field, Rohner has worked for several years as an audit expert and lead auditor of financial institutions. In his current function, he is director of financial services at KPMG in Zurich.

The existing internal audit group head, Nick Blöchlinger, will take on new professional challenges; he is assuming a new function within VP Bank Group at his own request. However, Blöchlinger will continue in his role until Rohner joins, ensuring an orderly handover.

Among recent developments at the VP Bank group, VP Bank Singapore announced in early April that Bruno Morel, its chief executive, had stepped down for personal reasons. Thomas Rupf, head of investment advisory and treasury for Asia, who has been with VP Bank since 2007, assumed the role of interim CEO until further notice.

VP Bank is among a number of Europe-based institutions that have expanded into the Asian private banking and wealth market. VP Bank and its sister businesses have signed a cooperation pact with Hywin Wealth Management and associated entities to build an offshore platform pitched at wealthy Chinese clients.