Merrill Lynch strengthens its Middle East business with two new appointments

Mr. Rawlinson joins the Dubai-based branch of Merrill Lynch Bank (Suisse). Prior to taking up his new role at Merrill Lynch, he was Head of Investment Banking for Noor Capital in Abu Dhabi, where he was a member of the Investment and Executive Committee and was integral to founding the Private Equity department. Mr. Rawlinson has 19 years of investment banking and advisory experience and has spent five years working in the GCC. In addition to his knowledge of the Middle East, he has extensive experience of US, UK and Asian markets, having held senior positions with companies including Société General, Jardine Fleming, NM Rothschild and The Telegraph Newspaper Group.

Lara Shukralla joins Merrill Lynch's Global Private Client business in Bahrain as a financial advisor. She also joins Merrill Lynch from Noor Capital in Abu Dhabi, where she was the Head of the wealth management department and the Head of the Marketing Committee, she also led the investment placement team of the GCC. Ms. Shukralla has nine years of Middle East wealth management experience, gained in senior positions including with Khaleej Finance and Investment, Investcorp Bank and American Express in Bahrain.

Eva Castillo, Head of Global Private Client EMEA, Merrill Lynch, said: "The appointment of Anthony and Lara, who are both highly experienced, will help us to further build on Merrill Lynch's 40 year commitment to the Middle East, by ensuring that we continue to offer world leading wealth management solutions to our high net worth clients in the region."

Core to GPC's presence in the region is its local expertise and access to Merrill Lynch's global resources, which provide its clients with innovative solutions to address international diversification needs as well as their increasingly complex financial requirements. GPC also has offices dedicated to Middle Eastern clients in Monte Carlo, London and Geneva.