Effective 1 May 2014, Pierre Ferland assumes his new role after serving as co-head of markets and international banking for Asia-Pacific. He will join the C&I leadership team, which is led by Donald Workman, executive chairman for C&I, who was formerly the executive chairman for RBS Asia-Pacific. 

He takes over from Madan Menon, who has decided to leave the company. Menon will work with him in the coming months to ensure a seamless transfer of responsibilities. Ferland was named to his current role at RBS in 2008. He joined NatWest in Tokyo in 1997 and eventually become the head of trading and branch in 2001. In May 2003, NatWest transferred majority of its market activities to RBS' securities unit, where he was appointed chairman and representative for RBS Securities Japan.

The formation of C&I is part of the bank's strategy to simplify its organisational structure to drive greater connectivity and client focus, said a spokesperson for RBS. In 27 February, the bank announced that it is moving from a bank with seven divisions to a bank with three customer business: personal and business banking, commercial and private banking, and corporate and institutional banking -- supported by one shared support structure.

In Asia-Pacific, RBS has a ten-country network. The spokesperson said the firm will continue to focus on its core strengths across foreign exchange, rates, credit, debt capital markets, and transaction services.