Credit Suisse entices Mahendran to Singapore

Arjuna L. Mahendran will return to the private sector as Credit Suisse Singapore's chief economist and strategist for the region. He moves to the Swiss group's private banking operations from the Board of Investment in Sri Lanka, where he was the chairman/director-general.

As chief economist and strategist for Credit Suisse Singapore, Mahendran will be responsible for expanding regional research capabilities and defining investment strategies for the bank's Asia-Pacific clients. In addition, he will direct the analytics team in interpreting market economics.

At the Board of Investments, Mahendran's responsibilities included attracting and facilitating inflows of FDI to the island nation. Following his departure, Saliya Wickramasuriya was appointed chairman/director-general.

Prior to his Sri Lankan stint, Mahendran was at SG Securities, where he was director and head of economic research for its ASEAN and South Asia markets. In this role, he covered stock market asset allocations, analysis of ASEAN and South Asian markets, as well providing economic intelligence and forecasts relating to the region.

His 20 years in the finance industry has also included a stretch with the World Bank.

"Given the increasing investor focus on Asian markets, it's timely that we strengthen our research capabilities here in Asia and are pleased that Mahendran is in the driver's seat," says Didier von Daeniken, Credit Suisse's head of private banking (South-east Asia). "His extensive experience will infuse new perspectives and practices that will make a tremendous contribution to our role as a centre of competence for economic intelligence on the Asia-Pacific."