MANILA, Philippines - German financial giant Commerzbank has made several senior hires as it continues to increase professional staffing levels in its main Asian offices. Most of the recent appointments are for new roles in its fixed-income and currencies (FIC) division, and its equity markets and commodities (EMC) division, and have taken place since the end of April, building on a recruitment process that started a year ago. Commerzbank now employs around 100 professionals in the major financial centers of Singapore, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai and Tokyo, and intends to strengthen its position as a strong banking partner in the region, with a selective and client-driven approach, according to Nick Johnston, head of corporates and markets, Asia. The German bank aims “to be relevant to its core European clients when doing business or investing in Asia, along with providing Asian investors with a meaningful window into Europe,” he added.