Baker & McKenzie has this week announced that Eduardo Leite has taken up his new role as chairman of the executive committee following his election earlier this year.

Leite is the firm's first chairman from Latin America and previously served as the managing partner of the Brazilian offices and chair of the firm's global steering committee for the energy, mining and infrastructure industry group.

As the new chairman, Leite succeeds John Conroy, whose second term as chairman ended at the conclusion of the firm's annual partners' meeting last month. Conroy served on the executive committee since 1998 and will return to practice in the firm's Chicago office.

In addition to Leite's appointment, Philip Suse (Chicago) and Winston Zee (Hong Kong) have been elected to serve on the firm's executive committee.

Suse and Zee succeed Peter Engstrom (San Francisco/Palo Alto) and Poh Lee Tan (Hong Kong) respectively. Engstrom and Tan will assume new management roles in addition to their client and practice responsibilities.

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Also amongst the firm's leadership changes is the appointment of executive committee member Jeremy Pitts (Tokyo) as chairman of the Asia-Pacific Regional Council and Suse as chairman of the North American Regional Council, effective immediately.