UPDATE 1-Goldman adds Alireza, Ryan to mgmt committee -memo

* Doubles Asia representation in committee to four

* Expands global management committee to 33

* Move marks Goldman's vote of confidence in the region

By Michael Flaherty and Nishant Kumar

HONG KONG, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS.N) has appointed Yusuf Alireza and David Ryan to its global management committee, doubling the Asia representation to four, according to an internal memo obtained by Reuters.

The move marks a major vote of confidence from Goldman in Asia, where it has been expanding like many other Western financial firms looking to offset slower growth and choppy markets in the United States.

Alireza and Ryan, who will become co-presidents of Goldman Sachs in Asia ex-Japan, join Michael Evans, global head of growth markets and Asia chairman, and Masa Mochida, Japan president, in the expanded committee of 33 representatives.

Evans was recently made global head of growth markets. Some media reports have speculated that he is a potential candidate to succeed Goldman Sachs Chairman Lloyd C. Blankfein.

"These appointments reflect the firm's continuing strong commitment to Asia, which includes many growth markets that are critical to the firm's global strategy," Blankfein said in the memo co-sent by Evans and Goldman President Gary D. Cohn.

Alireza, who joined the firm in 1992, heads the securities division in Asia, while Ryan is the co-head of Goldman's investment banking division in Asia-ex Japan and chairman of Southeast Asia. (Editing by Chris Lewis)