private client services, John Hawkins, after 25 years at the bank.

Mr. Hawkins joined Bank of Bermuda in l976 and, after an initial assignment in Bermuda, was appointed managing director of the bank's Hong Kong office in 1978. He moved in l985 to begin building the bank's corporate trust business in Europe.

He returned to Hong Kong in 1992 as senior vice president, Far East, he was instrumental in the l993 acquisition of Standard Chartered's fund administration arm and, the following year, their private trust business.

He held his current position as global head of private clients since l997.

Mr. Hawkins will continue to work with Bank of Bermuda in an advisory role on client and business development issues and to remain an active member of a number of subsidiary boards.

Henry Smith, chief executive officer and president of the bank, said: "John deserves recognition for the evolution of the bank's global private client services business into a comprehensive wealth management service for high net worth individuals. There are few people who have been able to play as important a role within this organisation and who are so strongly identified with the bank in many parts of the world.'' Mr. Hawkins added: "I have derived a great deal of satisfaction from my 25 years with Bank of Bermuda. I have enjoyed the different challenges I have faced in different parts of the globe and feel proud that the businesses have grown so successfully during my time at the bank. It has been a hard decision to leave, but I am looking forward to spending more time with my family and pursuing personal interests.

"The private client services business is in great shape and I know my successor, Wayne Chapman, will be able to take the business onto further success.'' Pending final confirmation from the Board of Bank of Bermuda, Wayne Chapman will succeed Mr. Hawkins as global head of private client services. Mr.

Chapman, a Bermudian, currently has overall responsibility for the bank's Investment division and has been with the bank since 1980. He has previously worked for the Bank in Europe and Bermuda in the global custody and corporate trust departments. He will remain based in Bermuda.