DUBAI  - Saad Benani, a senior investment banker for Credit Suisse in the Middle East and North Africa region, has left the Swiss bank after 12 years, two sources told Reuters.

Benani, was Credit Suisse's managing director and head of Middle East and North Africa investment banking and capital markets, according to his LinkedIn profile.

The departure came as Credit Suisse has been ramping up its presence in the region.

Last year it hired Hazem Shawki, a former Goldman Sachs banker in an expanded EMEA emerging market role that included Turkey, Israel and Russia.

It recently hired Morgan Stanley banker Tara Luthra, as a managing director investment banking and capital markets, according to her LinkedIn profile, which says she joined Credit Suisse in October this year.

Credit Suisse is keen to expand in Saudi Arabia, where it was awarded a full banking licence by the country's central bank in 2019.

The kingdom has become one of the Middle East's most active markets for deals especially in equities as companies tap into local investors' demand for shares following Saudi Aramco's record $29.4 billion initial public offering.

Credit Suisse declined to comment and Benani's official email bounced back. Benani joined Credit Suisse in 2008 from the then Merrill Lynch.

(Reporting by Saeed Azhar, editing by Louise Heavens) ((Saeed.Azhar@thomsonreuters.com; +971 521047569; Reuters Messaging: saeed.azhar.reuters.com@reuters.net))