Credit Suisse has launched a new wealth planning unit to serve ultra-high net worth clients in a more structured and holistic manner.

Credit Suisse has given wealth planning a more pivotal role within its Asia-Pacific private banking business with the addition of a dedicated team for ultra-wealthy clients.

The unit, led by Bernard Fung, will draw on the capabilities of the firm’s family office services and philanthropy advisory function as well as those of the trust and estate advisory team in Singapore.

“The formally integrated wealth planning services set-up will enable us to serve our ultra-high net worth clients and their families in a more client-centric and structured manner, understand their needs and offer them holistic succession planning for both their liquid and non-liquid assets, as well as customise appropriate solutions and structures for the family’s business and private assets,” Credit Suisse said in a memo seen by this publication.

Team members include Pauline Khoo, head of trust and estate advisory in Singapore; Thomas Ang, who will become head of family office services for Asia-Pacific; and Joost Bilkes, who assumes the role of head of responsible and impact investing for Asia-Pacific.

Khoo will have a local reporting line to Fung and continue to report functionally to Stefan Aegerter, global head of trust and estate advisory.

Fung will continue to lead the philanthropy advisory and SymAsia Foundation teams.

Meanwhile, a new unit focused on the structuring of private label funds for private banking clients in Asia-Pacific will also be launched and led by Christos Anagnostopoulos, currently a member of the PLF team in Switzerland. Anagnostopoulos will relocate to Singapore in mid-April.

Also this week, Credit Suisse reinforced its commitment to the private wealth market in India with two senior appointments.