BSI, the private bank based in Switzerland's Ticino region, has hired a former prosecutor to lead its legal affairs division.

Banca della Svizzera Italiana (BSI), the private-banking unit of BTG Pactual of Brazil, has hired Emanuele Stauffer as its new head of legal affairs, starting in March. Stauffer today confirmed his appointment on «RSI», the Swiss regional radio and television corporation.

Stauffer will also take a seat on the executive board of the bank. He was public prosecutor in the canton of Ticino from 1998 to 2004. For the following four years, he worked as head of legal affairs in the Italian-speaking region of Switzerland for Credit Suisse. Later, he joined the offices of Peter Bernasconi & Partner as well as PSMLaw.

Timely Appointment

BSI seems to be in need to strengthen its legal department as one of its senior private banker in Singapore is under investigation for abetting money laundering. The banker is said to have played an important role.

BSI is for sale. EFG International, the cantonal bank of Ticino and DBS Bank of Singapore are said to be frontrunners to acquire the private bank.