Credit Suisse has hired a former ABN Amro country head for France as chief executive of its French business as it seeks to reclaim a place at the top table of banks in the country.

Pierre Fleuriot joins Credit Suisse to replace François Roussely, former chairman of Electricité de France, who has been named vice chairman of Credit Suisse in Europe and the lead banker globally on the nuclear energy sector, from November 2. Both will be based in Paris and report to Eric Varvel, chief executive of Europe, the Middle East and Africa, according to a statement from Credit Suisse this morning.