(6 August 2007 – Australia) BNP Paribas has appointed Didier Mahout as its new chief executive officer for Australia and New Zealand.Mahout will replace François Cristofari, who is moving to take up the new position of head of Territory for BNP Paribas in China.
Mahout, who starts in the role in September, was most recently CEO for BNP Paribas Belgium. He joined the bank in 1982 and has held a number of leadership roles in Europe.
Cristofari spent three years as CEO of BNP Paribas Australia & New Zealand, moving to Sydney from France where he headed up Corporate Banking for the bank in Europe.
BNP Paribas chief operating officer Jean Clamon said the bank would look to grow its corporate and investment banking, asset management, private and retail banking businesses across Asia and tap the significant opportunities and growth in the Chinese economy under Cristofari’s stewardship.