April 13 (Bloomberg) -- Citigroup Inc., the world's biggest financial services group, said today it appointed a new management team for its fixed income capital markets division in the Asia Pacific region.

The New York-based bank appointed Hong Kong-based Mohsin Nathani, its co-head of Asia Pacific debt markets in charge of syndicated loans since October 2000, to head emerging market corporate banking for the Middle East as well as becoming chief executive and managing director for the bank's Islamic investment bank, Citigroup said in a news release. He'll be based in Dubai.

Aamir Rahim, Citigroup's co-head of Asia Pacific debt capital markets responsible for debt issuance, will now be in charge of combined Asia Pacific fixed income capital markets, including bonds and loans, it said. Hong Kong-based Rahim reports to Jeremy Amias, head of global fixed income for Asia Pacific.

``Under Mohsin and Aamir, we have built the region's pre- eminent debt business,'' Hong Kong-based Amias said in the news release. ``Under Aamir's leadership, our Asian international bond business had its strongest year ever in 2004, leading the most deals in the market.''

Farhan Faruqui, currently Citigroup's corporate and investment banking head for the Czech Republic and emerging market corporate banking head for central Europe, will relocate to Hong Kong to head the bank's global loans business in Asia Pacific including Japan. He will also oversee Citigroup's infrastructure and energy finance business in the region. Faruqui joined the bank in 1991 in Pakistan.

Nathani, 39, began his banking career in 1989 with Citigroup in Karachi. He joined ABN Amro Holding NV in 1993 before returning to Citigroup in 2000.

Citigroup was the No. 4 syndicated loan underwriter in Asia- Pacific outside of Japan in the first quarter, down from No. 1 in the same period of 2004. It's the top bond underwriter in the region, up from No. 4 in the first quarter of 2004, according to Bloomberg data.

To contact the reporter for this story: Patricia Kuo in Hong Kong at pkuo2@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: April 13, 2005 00:43 EDT