A brokerage and life insurance firm with a focus on high net worth clients has appointed a CEO in Hong Kong and said it has won regulatory clearance for its executive team to buy all of a wealth solutions business from Towers Watson.

Swiss-Asia life insurance brokerage firm Charles Monat Associates has appointed Berry Wong as its new chief executive in Hong Kong, taking up the role from 18 August. He replaced Peter Tsih, the firm later confirmed to this news service.

As part of the appointment, Wong joins the firm’s operational committee to bolster the firm’s product and service offerings for high net worth clients in Hong Kong, as well as through its partnership with Willis Towers Watson, the firm said in a statement yesterday. 

With more than 22 years of service, Wong was previously the regional head of wealth planning services, Asia-Pacific for BNP Paribas. Prior to this, Wong was senior director, wealth planning services of HSBC Private Banking with primary focus on expanding and developing the fiduciary services for wealthy family in Asia, including Greater China, The Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.

In his role, Wong will report to Yves Guélat, Charles Monat’s group CEO.

MBO
The announcement of Wong’s appointment coincides with receiving regulatory approval for a management buyout by the executive team at CMA to acquire 100 per cent of the Global Wealth Solutions business of Willis Towers Watson. 

CMA and Willis Towers Watson will enter into a global arrangement to ensure that CMA clients have access to a global platform to service them on a worldwide basis. CMA will continue to have access to Willis Towers Watson’s wide range of human capital and risk management specialist services.

Charles Monat offers advisory and brokerage services on wealth preserving and liquidity solutions. Founded in Hong Kong in 1971, it now operates in Liechtenstein, Miami, Singapore and Zürich.