ABN Amro wants to expand in emerging securitization markets and has named Gary Watmore to fill a new position as head of emerging markets asset-backed securities. Watmore spent past five years at ABN in Hong Kong and Singapore, overseeing Asian securitization. He will be based in London and report to Gareth Thomas, global head of cross-border structured finance.

Watmore's initial focus will be on Central and Eastern Europe and will expand to South Africa, the Middle East and later Latin America. Thomas said the London team will concentrate on structuring and will complement the origination divisions already covering these areas. "In the central and eastern European area, we have done deals but didn't have a focused team," he said. "There is a large emerging markets area in the capital markets," he said. "This move is capitalising on our global strength in securitization."

As the team grows, Thomas said further internal transfers are likely to be made, and new hirings are expected to be made in Latin America. Boudewijn Berger will replace Watmore in Asia.