Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, part of Bank of America, has expanded its team in the Middle East with the appointment of Joy Verghese as a financial advisor, based in Dubai.

In his new role Verghese focuses on ultra high net worth clients and family offices in Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and reports to Amir Sadr, head of middle east for MLWM. He joined the firm from BNP Paribas, where he held a similar Dubai-based role serving HNW and UHNW clients.

Dubai is MLWM’s largest office in the middle eastern region, although it also has offices in Lebanon and Bahrain.