New Orleans-headquartered Whitney National Bank has hired Mark Duthu as executive vice president, wealth management. Mr Duthu will oversee the expansion of Whitney's trust, brokerage and investment management resources, and its integration within private banking and other offerings to affluent clients, business owners and executives.

Mr Duthu will report to Robert Baird, executive vice president of banking services. Mr Duthu has 27 years' experience in the financial services industry with emphasis on marketing and sales development, client administration, strategic planning and product development. Most recently, he was the regional managing director of Wachovia's trust offices in

Alabama and

Texas.

Whitney Holding Corporation, through its banking subsidiary Whitney National Bank, serves the five-state Gulf coast region stretching from Houston, Texas, across southern Louisiana and the coastal region of Mississippi to central and south Alabama, the panhandle of Florida and the Tampa Bay metropolitan area of Florida.