EUROPE - Northern Trust says it has hired former Citigroup securities services executive John Gout as a sales manager for Europe.

It has also taken on Kas Bank's Wim van Ooijen as a senior relationship manager.

The Chicago-based bank said the two native Dutch speakers would strengthen its commitment to Europe and the Netherlands in particular.

Gout will head global custody and asset administration business development across Europe with a special focus on the Netherlands, it said. He reports to Penelope Biggs, senior vice president of international sales and global fund services.

He was most recently vice president, securities country manager and relationship manager at Citibank's Global Transaction Services arm in Switzerland, it said.

"John's appointment reinforces our commitment to the Netherlands and growing our asset servicing business in Europe," Biggs said.

Van Ooijen, formerly Dutch institutional investor relationship manager for Kas in Amsterdam, will be responsible for existing client relationships in the Netherlands.

Last month Northern said that Terence Toth would take over as president of Northern Trust Global Investments on the retirement of Stephen Timbers. Steven Fradkin was named chief financial officer.

Northern Trust has 2.2 trillion dollars in assets under custody and 478.6 billion dollars under management.