Goldman Sachs Asset Management has named a new head for its Asia ex-Japan unit. 

Sheila Patel, co-chief executive for Europe, Middle East and Africa, is the firm's new  head for the region, excluding Japan. Her appointment is an expansion of her current role, where she will continue to be in charge of client-facing and distribution-focused operations in Asia.

The EMEA business will then be solely led by Andrew Wilson.

Patel takes over from Oliver Bolitho, who has been named chairman of GSAM Asia-Pacific. She joined Goldman Sachs in 2003 as co-head of equities distribution in Asia and then became a partner in 2006. 

The reorganisation follows the shutdown of Goldman Sachs' South Korea business due to intense market competition. GSAM Korea staff will either be relocated to Singapore or offered positions at GSAM's other businesses in Korea.