Barclays Wealth has strengthened its Cardiff office with the addition of Paul Kirk - latterly of Coutts - as regional head.

In his new role, Kirk will oversee Barclays Wealth’s activity across south Wales, based primarily within the Cardiff office, which now has over 20 employees, the firm said.

At Coutts, Kirk headed up the wealth management offering in the southwestern region of the UK, holding responsibility for developing the business and opening new regional offices.

Barclays Wealth has also marked its expansion across the southwest with the promotion of Paul Freeman from senior manager to director. Freeman works across the Bristol, Devon, Cornwall and Cardiff offices.

In addition, Paul Sturgess and Marcus Whawell have been promoted as vice presidents within the Cardiff and Bristol offices.

In other developments, the firm appointed Philippe Hofer - formerly of UBS - as managing director and market head of Africa offshore within its international private bank for Europe, the Middle East and Africa in February.