Weekly roundup of people news, Jan 29
UBS WM’s Asia head of global family office exits
The head of global family office for Asia at UBS Wealth Management, Valerie Chou, has stepped down. AsianInvestor could not ascertain her next destination by press time.
Chou had reportedly joined from Morgan Stanley in December 2011 as head of client coverage for UBS WM's global family office business in Hong Kong, but UBS declined to confirm this.
She has been replaced by Enrico Mattoli as head of global family office for Greater China, as of this month. UBS did not clarify by press time why he has not taken over the Asia-Pacific role; it is understood that role no longer exists.
Mattoli was previously Asia-Pacific head of real estate in the investment products and services division for ultra-high-net-worth clients. Until a restructuring in September he had been head of investment products and services for ultra-high-net-worth clients for Asia Pacific. He has been with the bank for around 20 years.
Axa IM names Japan chairman
Axa Investment Managers has named Masanori Tanabe as external director and chairman in Japan as of January 1 as part of its ambition to grow its footprint in the country. He retains his roles as chairman of Axa Life Japan and Axa General Insurance Japan.
Tanabe had held senior roles at the Bank of Japan from 1975 to 2005, before becoming governor of the Deposit Insurance Corporation of Japan.
Bank of Singapore names head of advisory portfolio management
Bank of Singapore has promoted Patrick Donze to head its advisory portfolio management team as of January 11, after two years as an investment counsellor. He reports to Hou Wey Fook, chief investment officer. BoS declined to say who was head of advisory portfolio management previously.
Jennifer Wang named Taiwan FSC chairman
The vice-chairperson of Taiwan’s Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC), Jennifer Wang, will take over as head of the regulator as a result of a government cabinet reshuffle.
Current chairman Tseng Ming-chung is transferring to become a member of the Legislative Yuan, the Taiwan government’s legislative branch.
Both appointments will become effective on February 1.
Tseng has been seen as a significant reformer in Taiwan’s financial industry since his appointment in 2013. He has reportedly initiated many reforms, such as encouraging domestic institutions, including fund houses and brokerages, to expand in Asia and globally. Tseng also promoted the idea of setting up a Taiwan Stock Connect with Singapore and a similar link with Shanghai.
Invesco replaces Middle East head
US asset manager Invesco has reportedly appointed Nick Tolchard, formerly its Middle East head, as head of Europe, the Middle East and Africa (Emea) for Invesco Fixed Income (IFI). He will lead the team developing the distribution of fixed-income products across the Emea region.
Tolchard had also looked after Invesco’s business globally with sovereign wealth funds and had opened Invesco’s first Middle East office in Dubai. In his new role he will report into IFI, which is based in Atlanta.
Tolchard’s former role as Middle East head no longer exists. Alex Millar, formerly head of institutional sales for the Middle East and Africa, has been promoted to a new role as head of Emea sovereigns and Middle East and Africa institutional business, responsible for leading Invesco’s institutional division across the regions.
Both promotions were effective from January 4.
Pictet AM replaces global institutional head
Swiss firm Pictet Asset Management has appointed Niall Quinn as global head of institutional business, excluding Japan, effective March 2016. The London-based appointment follows the retirement of Christoph Lanter, who served with Pictet for 17 years.
With 20 years of experience in the asset management industry, Quinn previously served as managing director at US fund house Eaton Vance Management International, where he was responsible for institutional business development. AsianInvestor could not ascertain by press time who will replace him at Eaton Vance.
Aberdeen appoints head of insurance for solutions team
UK-based Aberdeen Asset Management has hired James Hughes to the newly created role of head of insurance for its investment solutions business, with a view to expanding in that area.
London-based Hughes will work with the insurance specialists team in the distribution division to help build and deliver multi-asset solutions for insurance clients. Aberdeen said his international experience would allow it to expand the insurance solutions business.
Hughes previously worked as managing director of multi-asset solutions at Swiss fund-of-funds firm Gottex Asset Management, a role he assumed in October 2014. Prior to this, he was group chief investment officer at HSBC Insurance.
AlixPartners hires China co-head from PE firm
Business advisory firm AlixPartners, which works with private equity firms, among others, has named George Geh as a managing director in Shanghai, effective January 4. He will jointly run the China office with managing director Stephen Maurer, with both men reporting to Masahiko Fukasawa, head of Asia.
Most recently, Geh was co-founder and managing partner at Richwise Capital Management, where he was co-founder and managing partner, leading investment in growth-stage companies in mainland China and providing strategic advice to portfolio companies.
Geh has 30 years of experience in engineering, product development and manufacturing across a variety of industry sectors. He also has management consulting experience on business strategy, operations and organisational issues to drive financial performance improvement.
Northstar Financial Services hires to spearhead Middle East push
Asset management firm Northstar Financial Services (Bermuda) has promoted director Mark Rogers to vice-chairman, with a view to him spearheading a push into the Middle East and Africa via a new office in Dubai.
The company is in the final stages of establishing the branch to cover the Middle East and Africa and will make an announcement regarding its key representative in the region in due course.
Rogers had joined the Bermuda-based firm in July 2015 after 40 years in the financial services industry. His previous roles include vice-president and director of international distribution at Sun Life International (Bermuda) and president of MFS International.
Other people news reported on AsianInvestor.net in the past week:
Morningstar names head of IM for Asia