ABN Amro has hired Paolo Cuccia, chief executive of Acea, the Italian utility, as the Italian country representative of its wholesale clients investment banking division.

Cuccia, who has been chief executive of Acea for six years, joins ABN Amro after working as a senior adviser to the Dutch financial services group since the start of 2004. In his new role, he will be responsible for developing ABN Amro's corporate and investment banking presence in Italy.