Weekly roundup of people news, Nov 20
BLACKROCK APPOINTS FIRST CHINA PRIVATE CREDIT HEAD
BlackRock has appointed Celia Yan to the newly created post of head of China private credit, effective November 16. Based in Hong Kong, she reports to Neeraj Seth, Singapore-based head of Asian credit.
A spokeswoman told AsianInvestor that the addition of Yan further deepened the US fund house's investment expertise across a diversified alternatives platform.
Yan also assumes the role of co-portfolio manager for private credit investments across Asia Pacific and will help build out the regional platform.
She was most recently head of Greater China at distressed debt specialist ADM Capital, where she spent nearly a decade. Before joining ADM in 2011, Yan worked for National Australia Bank in Melbourne.
NIKKO AM NAMES HEAD OF CONSULTANT RELATIONS
Japan’s Nikko Asset Management has appointed Tony Glover as global head of consultant relations in addition to the role of global head of intermediaries, which he assumed when he joined the firm on March 1.
The additional responsibilities will see Tokyo-based Glover ensure the firm’s strategies are monitored and rated by consultants. Ian Lewis previously looked after those duties in addition to being head of sales for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, a role he retains.
He reports to Stefanie Drews, global head of international sales and strategy and product and solutions, as well as global head of marketing and sales support.
Before joining Nikko AM, Glover worked at BNP Paribas Asset Management in Japan.
BNP Paribas did not immediate reply to questions on how it had filled Glover's responsiblities since he left.
This story has ben updated to show that Ian Lewis had previously head the consultant relations role.
STANCHART'S GLOBAL HEAD OF PRIVATE BANKING STEPS DOWN
Didier von Daeniken, global head of private banking at Standard Chartered, is set to leave the bank as the company announces a restructuring that combines its private banking business with retail banking and wealth management.
Judy Hsu, chief executive for Asean and South Asia, will head the new consumer, private and business banking for the interim until a permanent appointment is made. She has been at StanChart since December 2009.
The new business will be effective from January 1 and will be organised into two client groups – personal and business banking, and private and priority banking – operating in two regions, Asia and Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Von Daeniken had been head of private banking since March 2016. AsianInvestor could not ascertain his next destination.
PICTET WM POACHES FUND SPECIALIST FROM UBS
Pictet Wealth Management appointed Karen Tan from rival Swiss bank UBS as an executive director for fund specialist advisory in Singapore on November 9. A spokeswoman said the role was newly created.
Tan's arrival follows the relocation of senior fund analyst Sébastien Gentizon back to Pictet’s headquarters in Geneva. He was based in Singapore for four years and responsible for the bank’s global, Asian, emerging markets and Japan equity funds selection.
Before joining Pictet Tan was an investment specialist for managed product advisory at UBS. The private bank declined to comment on whether she had been replaced.
Prior to that, Tan worked at Julius Baer for six years in a similar capacity. She started her career in Merrill Lynch in 2000 and has also worked at Bank of Singapore and HSBC Private Banking.
RBC WM NAMES HEAD OF INVESTMENTS FOR ASIA AND INTERNATIONAL
Canada's RBC Wealth Management promoted Juan Aronna to head of investments for its Asia and international businesses on November 1. He is expected to relocate from Hong Kong to London in May next year.
Aronna was previously Asia head of investment solutions and products, a role he had held for six years.
Reporting to Maarten Jansen,Toronto-based head of investments and trading, Aronna now leads RBC WM’s investment teams in Hong Kong, Singapore, London and Jersey.
RBC WM declined to comment on who previously held the duties before Aronna's appointment into the expanded role.
INDOSUEZ WM NAMES COO
Indosuez Wealth Management has appointed Michael van Ommeren as chief operating officer for Hong Kong, reporting to Hong Kong chief executive Olivier Livenais.
Van Ommeren replaced Daniel Stakic, who started in another role at Indosuez in France last month, a company spokeswoman said. He had been Hong Kong COO since April 2016, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Van Ommeren joined from KPMG, which declined to comment on his departure.
NATIXIS IM NAMES THREE EXECUTIVES FOR TAIWAN
Natixis Investment Managers (Natixis IM) announced three senior appointments in Taiwan on November 17.
James Chen was appointed as general manager for Taiwan in July. Chloe Tai and Sophia Huang have both been appointed as associate directors, focusing on institutional investor business. All are based in Taipei. Tai and Sophia both report to Chen.
Chen replaced Tony Huang, who has joined Fidelity as head of intermediary business in Taiwan in mid-October. Chen joined Natixis IM Taiwan as director in 2009. Prior to his current role, he was mainly responsible for developing Taiwan’s retail business.
Tai joined the firm in November from TransGlobe Life Insurance, where she had been an investment manager. Before that, she worked as a legal manager at CDIB Capital Group.
Huang, who joined Natixis in Singapore in 2004, was appointed as institutional associate director in March this year. Prior to her current role, she was a customer service manager for over a decade.
FACTSET NAMES AUSTRALIA AND NZ DIRECTOR
FactSet has named Natalia Stansall as regional director for Australia and New Zealand.
Stansall reports to Tom Griffith, Hong Kong-based senior director for Asia-Pacific, and is responsible for strategy, sales and marketing efforts across all business lines, a company spokeswoman said. She declined to comment on who had held the role previously.
Stansall joined FactSet from index provider MSCI, where she led the analytics business in Australia for 15 years. MSCI declined to comment on her departure or how it would cover her responsibilities.
FAMILY OFFICE ASSOCIATION HONG KONG LAUNCHES
Hong Kong’s first independent family office industry body, the Family Office Association Hong Kong, launched on November 18.
Kwan Chi-Man, chief executive and founder of Raffles Family Office, was appointed as chairman of the new organsation, which aims to promote and support family offices in Hong Kong, offering best practice guidance and events and upholding standards.
Kenneth Ho, founder and managing partner of Carret Private Capital Limited, and Grant Ko, co-founder and chairman of Wisdom Asset Management, have been appointed as vice-chairmen of the association. Other committee members include Jim Kwok, CEO of Topaz Financial Group and Harry Pang, founder of Fountainhead Partners.
Kwan had previously been a private banker at BNP Paribas and Standard Chartered Bank, respectively,.