Lord North Street, the UK-based private investment office, said today it is to broaden its market reach by launching a Swiss business.

Lord North Street, the UK-based private investment office, said today it is to broaden its market reach by launching a Swiss business.

The Swiss private investment office will be run by Sonia de Luca and Fabio Blom, subject to authorisation by the Swiss regulator.  Investment research and other services will be provided from London by Lord North Street Limited, the firm said in a statement.

Sonia de Luca, who will hold the role of director, was for the last 13 years at JP Morgan Private Bank, specialising in advice on strategic and tactical asset allocation, alternative investments, credit structuring and new client acquisition based in Geneva and Zurich.  This was preceded by nine years of investment banking experience at JP Morgan covering a range of management support roles including project management and financial reporting.

Fabio Blom, meanwhile, had for the last six years been responsible for strategic asset allocation and management at a single family office. His previous experience covered various investment management roles at Credit Suisse and prior to that at JP Morgan Private Bank, Lord North Street said.

Lord North Street says it has, since 2000, pioneered the concept of the private investment office. Its international network already includes MdF Family Partners, based in Madrid and Barcelona, and MdF Private Investment Office, with its presence in Latin America.

“This new office in Switzerland will be a significant further step forward for Lord North Street internationally and we look forward to expanding our international network over time as the private investment office concept continues to grow in appeal.  It takes a long time to build a leading investment business and we believe Lord North Street has only scratched the surface of what is achievable,” Olivia Hancock, director at Lord North Street, said.

(William Drake, co-founder of Lord North Street, is a member of WealthBriefing's editorial board.)