The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development appointed Matteo Patrone its new managing director for Eastern Europe and the Caucasus.

Based in Kiev, the executive will be responsible for the EBRD's operations and activities in Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, the bank said Oct. 16.

Patrone is taking over from Francis Malige, who was the first managing director of the Eastern Europe hub and was recently appointed managing director for financial institutions at the bank's London headquarters.