New Asia focus for Grant Thornton

The team of six will be led by tax experts George McCracken and Paula Fraser and aims to support Scotland's Asian business community through tax planning, market and feasibility studies, fund raising and cross border acquisition services.

Fraser says: "The Asian business community has been a key contributor to the Scottish economy.

"It is extremely diverse yet quite distinct in terms of its needs, priorities and aspirations both in a business and social context."

Asia is also in sharp focus for Barrie & Hibbert, the financial risk advisory firm with its head office in Edinburgh.

The company has hired Tony Ho from RGA Insurance Hong Kong as head of client services (life insurance) to oversee the Asia Pacific region.

David Roseburgh has joined as head of risk modelling for the region, while Daisuke Nakazato becomes the firm's first dedicated representative in Japan.

Edinburgh-based Exova - formerly the laboratory testing arm of Bodycote - is looking abroad for business with the appointment of Kenny Morris as its group sales and marketing director.

Morris, who was previously global out-source director at call centre operator Capgemini, will develop a group brand to drive global sales.

Also taking up a new directorship is Ken Irving, who has become regional director of BAM Construction in Scotland.

Irving, who has been with the firm for 17 years, says: "These are challenging times in our industry, but I'm very proud to be leading the company at a time when we are completing some prestigious projects, including the Glasgow Museum of Transport, Anniesland College, the Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh."

Subsea technology firm Flexlife has appointed David Cassie, of Subsea7, and Sandy Clark, of Amec, as non-executive directors, while naming John Duncan as finance director and Charles Cruickshank as sales and marketing director.