HELSINKI, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Sweden's Handelsbanken has appointed Michael Green as its new CEO from Jan. 1, replacing Carina Akerstrom who announced in August she would retire next year, the bank said on Monday.

Green, who has been with the company for nearly 30 years, moves to the top job from leading the bank's Swedish business, it added. (Reporting by Essi Lehto, editing by Terje Solsvik)