Citigroup has underlined Asia’s growing importance to the bank by naming its consumer banking head in Hong Kong as global head of retail banking, according to an internal email seen by the Financial Times.

Jonathan Larsen, who will remain in Hong Kong, has been given the task of bringing all of Citi’s retail businesses into the digital age. He has been updating its operations in Asia with “smart banking” branches boasting video walls and touchscreen sales points, made possible by an overhaul of its IT systems.

Asia has become increasingly important for Citi as a source of both profits and fresh ideas for improving the business. The Asian consumer business has contributed net income of about $2bn for the past two years, which was much more than the US retail business contributed in 2010 and almost as much as the $2.6bn it earned from US retail last year.