Australia and New Zealand Bank Group Ltd yesterday announced that Grant Knuckey, a top company official in China, would lead the bank’s Laos and Cambodia operations.

Knuckey, who served as head of ANZ’s corporate and institutional services division in Shanghai, was named CEO of ANZ Royal in Cambodia and chairman of ANZ Laos, according to a company statement.

“ANZ is Australia’s largest foreign director investor in Cambodia and Laos, and Grant’s new roles help us take a more integrated view of opportunities, connecting the two economies with the rest of our network,” ANZ CEO Asia Gilles Planté said in the statement. Knuckey’s start date is pending regulatory approval, according to the statement.

The announcement comes just a week after ANZ confirmed the quick exit of Damian Bell, who had taken over as CEO of ANZ Royal in February but left just six weeks later.

Bell had led ANZ’s business in Laos before he was chosen to replace former ANZ Royal CEO Stephen Higgins, who had held the position since 2008.

ANZ officials last week offered no explanation for Bell’s departure, saying only that he had resigned “several weeks ago”.

ANZ spokesperson Mia Trinephi yesterday declined to answer questions about Bell’s resignation.

“We can confirm that he has resigned, and we are pleased to be in a position to announce Grant’s timely appointment so that the focus on our business and relationships in Cambodia are maintained,” she said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Tom Brennan at [email protected]