Merrill taps Molson to head Asia general industries

HONG KONG, April 17 (Reuters) - Merrill Lynch MER.N has moved London-based banker Naomi Molson to Hong Kong to head its general industries group for Asia, according to a company memo obtained by Reuters on Thursday.

Molson is the Wall Street bank's second recent high-profile hire in Asia as it looks to build up its capability in a fast-growing region that has suffered less from the subprime mortgage meltdown and credit crunch.

On Wednesday, sources familiar with the matter said Merrill Lynch had hired long-time senior Morgan Stanley (MS.N) banker Terence Keyes as head of corporate finance for Asia.

Molson was most recently chairman of Merrill's financial sponsors group for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and also served as vice chairman of investment banking for that region.

She joined Merrill in 1995 from rival Goldman Sachs (GS.N).

In her Asia role, Molson oversees deal origination for clients in the consumer, retail, healthcare and multi-industry sectors, the memo said. (Reporting by Tony Munroe; Editing by Anne Marie Roantree)