Citigroup's head of Asia Pacific investor sales, Ferdy Khouw has left the firm for "family reasons" to return to Australia to pursue personal interests. Khouw rose through Citi's successful treasury and forex sales business to become a major force in the firm. After the merger with Salomon Smith Barney, he was one of those tasked with putting the two firm's dollar and local currency fixed income sales teams together.

A long time Citibanker, based for much of his career in Singapore, an internal email from Citigroup pointed out, "It is only with regret that we announce his departure."

He will be replaced by Shahryar Mahbub who is also a longstanding Citibanker having joined the bank in Karachi in 1988. He has spent the last eight years in New York as a senior member of the emerging markets fixed income sales group. He will report to regional fixed income head, Jeremy Amias as well as too regional sales and trading head, Paco Ybarra and global head of fixed income sales, Steve Bowman.