Citi Private Bank has made a senior appointment in New York, while Family Wealth Report understands that it has also carved out a new business development role.

Ida Liu, currently head of Citi Private Bank’s North America Asian clients group, has been named global market manager for New York.

The Asian clients group will continue under Citi Private Bank's broader global client program; going forward, Liu will have oversight of all New York clients, the firm said.

According to a source, she is replacing Charlie Merrill, who will be head of business development for Citi Private Bank North America - a new role - as of May 1. Merrill, who joined in 2010 as global market manager for New York, will partner with all North American global market managers to help bolster Citi's focus and execution of new target client acquisition.

Liu is also tasked with boosting the investments business, cross-Citi partnerships and developing external relationships. Her appointment is effective May 9, when she will report to Tracey Warson, head of North America at Citi Private Bank.

Liu, a senior private banker, has led the North America Asian clients group since 2011. Before joining Citi, she was global head of sales, marketing and business development at Vivienne Tam. Earlier, she worked within Merrill Lynch’s investment banking division, spending time in New York and Hong Kong.

In other recent changes at Citi Private Bank, at the end of March the firm said it is combining its Northern California and Pacific Northwest regions into a single territorial area, under the leadership of Hoyt Gier, who is regional market manager of the US bank’s latter business (see here).