Credit Agricole Suisse plans Middle Eastern expansion

  Crédit Agricole Suisse (CA Suisse) is the centerpiece of the private banking division of Crédit Agricole, France’s third-largest bank, whose interests in the Middle East include long-standing relationships with banks in Saudi Arabia and Lebanon. Executive sat down with Youssef Dib, head of private banking at CA Suisse, Pierre Masclet, newly appointed head of markets and investment solutions, and Peter Chamlian, the recently appointed chief executive of the bank’s subsidiary in Lebanon.   You are one of five entities under the umbrella of the Crédit Agricole Private Banking arm. As such, you are present in select locations, with Beirut one of three locations in the Middle East, together with Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Why is Lebanon attractive to you, rather than Doha or Riyadh? [Dib] Lebanon is obviously not what it was 30 years ago but it is still a key market and a key presence for us, for