Citi has appointed Luke Lu as Citi country officer and head of banking for China, a role in which he will oversee all of the bank’s businesses and operations in China and will be responsible for maintaining the firm’s client relationships and regulatory commitments.

Lu, who will also assume the position of president and board director of Citibank (China), is a Citi veteran with 25 years of banking experience, having worked in Hong Kong and mainland China. He joined Citi in 2002 in Shanghai and has held various senior leadership positions across corporate and commercial banking.

Most recently, he led the corporate banking coverage of the large local corporate client segment. Luke also amassed substantial experience dealing with regulators and the government when he was Citi Tianjin’s and, later, Citi Shanghai’s branch manager.

Lu succeeds Christine Lam who is retiring from Citi. He will report to Angel Ng, head of Asia North and Australia, cluster and banking.

“Lu has a strong track record of delivering business growth, having knowledge and unique insight of the China market and a relentless focus on clients,” Ng says. “The China market is a strategic priority for Citi, where we have a market-leading banking business that we are committed to; and Luke is well-qualified to lead and grow our franchise in China.”