The latest senior moves and appointments in the region's wealth management industry.

Value Partners appointed Samuel Sun as managing director, chief risk officer. He is based in the Hong Kong headquarters. Sun, who has more than 25 years’ risk management experience, reports to the group’s president, June Wong. Sun replaced David Wong, who stepped down to retire in late March this year. Prior to this, Sun was chief risk officer, Asia, for Manulife Investment Management. Before joining Manulife, he was the head of risk management (Asia) at Allianz Global Investors. 

HSBC appointed Mathieu Forcioli as the global and Asia-Pacific head of alternatives, under the bank's investments and wealth solutions division for its wealth and personal banking business. Forcioli, who is based in Hong Kong, joined from Antarctica Asset Management in Hong Kong where he was the head of Antarctica Private, responsible for the private markets offering globally. Before this, Forcioli set up and grew the Asia operations of Moonfare. Forcioli reports to Jan-Marc Fergg, global head of ESG and managed solutions, IWS and Stefan Lecher, regional head of IWS, Asia-Pacific.

M&G Real Estate, part of the private assets and alternatives business at UK-based M&G, appointed Seiko Ikeda as head of Japan. Based in Tokyo, Ikeda reports to Jing Dong Lai, chief executive and chief investment officer for Asia. Ikeda joined M&G in 2016 as part of the acquisitions team based in Singapore where she was responsible for leading several strategic investments on behalf of the M&G’s Asia-Pacific core strategy. 

Bank of Singapore appointed former BlackRock senior figure Robert Reid as its global head of alternative investments and managed solutions. He took over from Fidelis Oruche. Reid, who is based in Hong Kong, reports to Lim Leong Guan, global head of products, and has a local reporting line to Teresa Lee, head of Greater China, Hong Kong branch. With 30 years of legal, consulting and financial services experience in the Asia-Pacific region, Reid was most recently the country head of Hong Kong and Taiwan at BlackRock, having joined the firm eight years ago as the head of strategy and chief operating officer for the iShares business in Asia.

Janus Henderson Investors appointed Alex Ng in the newly-formed role of head of intermediate sales for Asia ex Japan, starting in July. Ng will report to Andrew Hendry, head of distribution, Asia ex Japan. Ng is responsible for leading and managing the intermediary sales function across Southeast Asia and Greater China, with a focus on partnering with global banking clients.

Before this, Ng worked at Federated Hermes, where he was head of wholesale distribution, Asia, responsible for the firm's wholesale channel within Asia ex Japan. Prior to that, he was director at abrdn (previously Aberdeen Standard Investments), where he was responsible for product distribution to banks, and single family and multi-family offices. 

Saxo Markets, part of Copenhagen-based Saxo Bank, has recruited Charu Chanana as market strategist, based in Singapore. Chanana’s focus is on macro themes, forex, commodities and equities across Southeast Asia, Japan, India and the US. She has more than 10 years’ experience in the financial markets, having served most recently as the lead Asia economist at Continuum Economics.

She was joined by Jessica Amir, based in Sydney, and Redmond Wong, who operates from Hong Kong. Amir is responsible for providing real-time market updates and data analysis, working alongside Saxo’s expert global sales trading team. She has more than 14 years’ experience in financial markets. Wong has more than 30 years of experience in the industry.

Franklin Templeton appointed Patrick Vizzone as managing director and head of agri-food for its Asia-Pacific alternatives group, where he leads private equity and venture capital investments in the sustainable agri-food sector globally. Based in Hong Kong, Vizzone reports to Jing Su Vivatrat, president and chief operating officer of Franklin Templeton’s Asia-Pacific alternatives group.

Previously, Vizzone served as international head of food, beverage and agri-business and head of Hong Kong coverage at ANZ Banking Group. Prior to that, he was Asian head of institutional banking and head of food and agri-business at National Australia Bank. He has served in senior leadership roles at Rabobank and GE Capital Asia-Pacific.

Liechtenstein-based VP Bank appointed several senior Asia executives, including the head of its Singapore branch. It named Johnny Heng as head of the Singapore branch. He reports to Asia CEO Pamela Hsu Phua. Heng, whose appointment is subject to regulatory approval, has worked for more than 25 years in the financial services industry. He has international investment and management experience spanning London, New York and Singapore. Prior to joining VP Bank, Heng worked for Equities First Holdings, Nomura Singapore, Coutts & Co, and Credit Suisse Private Bank.

Veronica Ong joined as regional lead, marketing and communications Asia, reporting to chief of staff Asia, Heline Lam. Ong is a marketing and communications professional with more than two decades of experience. Previously head of marketing, Southeast Asia for Credit Suisse, she has worked for organisations such as Coutts & Co and the Monetary Authority of Singapore. 

Kenneth Chan joined as the head of intermediaries for Hong Kong. With over 30 years of financial services experience, he reports to Marx. Prior to joining the Hong Kong office, Chan worked for EFG Bank, UBS, Pictet & Cie (Europe), Standard Charted Private Bank and DBS Hong Kong. 

Alice Chan, who joined as a relationship manager, reports to Kenneth Chan. She came from EFG Bank AG and previously worked for UBS in Hong Kong, Standard Chartered, DBS Bank and ICBC.

Karen Ho joined as an RM, effective 27 June. With close to 20 years of banking experience, formerly from EFG Bank, she reports to Kenneth Chan. Prior to joining EFG Bank AG, Ho held various banking positions at UBS AG, HSBC, Citibank, and AIA.

Natixis Investment Managers appointed eight executives to join its management committee.

The appointed figures were Alix Boisaubert, head of global corporate communications, asset and wealth management; lain Bruneau, general secretary, AWM; Fabrice Chemouny, head of Asia-Pacific, Natixis IM; Audrey Koenig, CEO, Natixis Wealth Management; Melanie Robinson, global head of client experience, AWM; Justin Rosen, global chief compliance officer, Natixis IM; Jean-Marc Sabatier, global chief risk officer, Natixis IM; and Nathalie Wallace, global head of sustainable investing, AWM.

Natixis IM also appointed Shinji Inoue, president and representative director for Natixis IM Japan. He is based in Tokyo and reports to Fabrice Chemouny, head of Asia-Pacific. Inoue is taking over from Kinji Kato, who has been president and representative director for Natixis IM Japan since 2014. 

Inoue has 30-years of experience in the asset management and financial industry. He joined Nippon Life Insurance Company in 1989 and has been consistently engaged in asset management at the International Investment Department and Nissay Asset Management Co. He has worked at Natixis Asset Management, Japan Co Ltd (Natixis IM Japan) since 2008 as the head of investment management.

Eight Wealth International, a principal partner practice of wealth management group St James’s Place, appointed former senior Schroders, UBS and Credit Suisse figure Simon Lints as a strategic advisor based in Singapore. Lints has worked in the wealth sector for more than three decades, working in Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Prior to joining EWI, Lints served in senior roles in wealth management and private banking at Credit Suisse and UBS. Most recently, he was the chief executive of Schroders Wealth Management Singapore where he looked after the Southeast Asia portfolio. 

Value Partners Group, an Asian asset manager, appointed Otto Choi as senior director of its institutional business. Choi is based in the firm’s Hong Kong office and reports to the group’s president June Wong. Choi, who has extensive experience in the asset management industry, was most recently head of China institutional business at Allianz Global Investors. He joined AGI in 2011 and has spent more than 10 years with the company. 

Silverhorn, the investment firm, appointed an experienced industry figure Bert Kwan as its new private equity head, based in its Hong Kong headquarters. Prior to joining Silverhorn, Kwan led more than $3.5 billion of transactions in Asia and led entry into new Asian private equity markets for several organisations.

JP Morgan Asset Management made new hires to its sales and client services resources. On the wholesale distribution side, Mark Carlile was appointed head of wholesale, Australia and New Zealand, a newly-created position based in Melbourne. He reports to Andrew Creber, Australia and New Zealand chief executive. Carlile has been with the firm for eight years, previously as head of strategic relationships, which is now expanded to include his current role. He has worked in the financial services sector for more than 30 years.

It also appointed two new client advisors to join Carlile’s team, supporting the wholesale business expansion. Justin Sultana, who is based in Sydney, joined from First Sentier Investors to focus on distribution in Northern states. Based in Melbourne, Stephanie Harrison joined from Vanguard Investments to focus on distribution in Southern states.

On the institutional distribution side, Josh Peel was appointed a client advisor. Based in Sydney and reporting to Andrew Creber, Peel is responsible for deepening relationships with institutional clients and prospects. 

Matthias Schacke was named UBS country head for India. Schacke, who reports to Edmund Koh, Asia-Pacific president and Stefan Seiler, group head of human resources, is continuing in his role as head of talent and recruiting in human resources. Since joining the Swiss bank in 2000, Schacke has worked in a range of senior leadership roles across HR.

Laureola Advisors, a life settlements fund manager, opened an office in Sydney and appointed Nathan Wares to its lead distribution efforts. The firm, which is based in the British Virgin Islands with offices in several locations such as Canada, the UK and US, made a “soft” launch of its Australian business about two years ago. Wares has more than 25 years’ experience in funds management, investment banking, financial markets and private banking. In the past 20 years he has served in senior roles both in a leadership and sales capacity at Citigroup Asset Management as vice president of sales, ANZ Investment Bank as director of equity capital markets, and a director of Westpac and St George Private Banks managing people and UHNW client portfolios.

Standard Chartered Bank’s global head of managed investments Chandrima Das left the lender. Das, who had gone back to the UK-listed bank in April 2021 to head up its discretionary portfolio management business  embarked on a banking career at Standard Chartered in 1999. Prior to her latest role at the bank, she was head of GrabInvest at Singapore-based Grab, the ride-hailing, technology and payments firm. From 2016 to 2020 she was CEO at Bento, a robo-advisor which she founded and which Grab eventually bought. Das also worked at Bank of Singapore, as MD, head of managed investment sales and advisory, from 2011 to 2015, according to her public profile on LinkedIn.

Goldman Sachs named a new co-head of China, E G Morse, who works alongside Wei Cai, the co-head of the China investment banking arm of the US firm and global vice chairman of the IBD, as well as Sean Fan, co-head of China IBD.

Wei also became the head of China’s global markets at Goldman Sachs – a newly-formed role. Morse had been head of Goldman Sachs Singapore and boss of the Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan) fixed income, currencies and commodities sales business. He has been at Goldman Sachs since 2008. He moved to Singapore to take up the new post. Wei joined Goldman Sachs as a partner in 2018. Fan joined Goldman Sachs in 2004 as an associate and rejoined the firm in 2007 as an executive director. He was named managing director in 2011 and partner in 2018.

PIMCO appointed Samuel Watkins as executive vice president, head of business, Australia and New Zealand. He works with Rob Mead, head of PIMCO Australia and co-head of APAC Portfolio Management to lead the growth strategy in Australia. He also partners with Eric Frerer, head of institutional account management and Brendon Rodda, head of distribution, global wealth management. Watkins has local oversight of business management functions, reporting to Alec Kersman, head of Asia-Pacific who is based in Hong Kong.

Prior to joining PIMCO, Watkins worked at Goldman Sachs from 2014 to 2022, where he was managing director and head of equity finance product, Asia-Pacific, responsible for marketing, distribution, development and structuring equity finance products for the region. Previously, he worked at Deutsche Bank AG, Credit Suisse AG and Macquarie Bank in Australia holding various positions in their equities and derivatives businesses.

First Sentier Investors appointed Marcus Ong as director, institutional business in the Singapore distribution team. Ong, who reports to Christy Goh, head of distribution for Southeast Asia, is responsible for cultivating institutional client relationships across sovereign wealth, central banks, insurance companies, endowments and government entities in the region. Ong spent the last six years at Franklin Templeton, most recently as co-head, institutional business, Southeast Asia.

UBS appointed former HSBC Private Banking senior figure Michelle Lau as head of wealth planning for Southeast Asia; she took up the post during the third quarter of 2022. Lau replaced Raymond Gwee, who retired. With a number of senior roles under her belt, Lau was appointed to head the ultra-high net worth desk at HSBC Singapore before joining IPG Howden as the chief executive for Southeast Asia, overseeing its Southeast Asia and Middle East operations. She has worked at HSBC Private Banking for more than two decades.

Sylvan Group, a private equity and buyout firm backed by members of the Rockefeller and Hyundai dynasties, appointed Valerie Rockefeller as vice chairman for its advisory board.

At the same time, Kin Wong joined Sylvan as managing director carrying out deal origination, structuring, execution and portfolio management across Asia. Ms Rockefeller, a well-known philanthropist and Sylvan’s environmental, social and governance impact partner, helps the firm identify and assess potential investments based on their positive impact on society.

Saxo Capital Markets HK Limited, part of Saxo Bank, appointed financial industry figure Sean Ma as head of Saxo Institutional with a remit to increase the institutional offering across the Greater China region. Prior to joining Saxo, Ma was with top financial institutions in the securities and futures industry and fintech-related sectors. Ma, who has more than a decade’s experience of working senior management roles, was a founding member two Hong Kong licensed firms. His time is divided between working in Hong Kong and mainland China.

abrdn, formerly Standard Life Aberdeen, appointed Raf Choudhury as investment director on the Asia-Pacific multi-asset investment solutions (MAIS) team. He reports to Irene Goh, head of MAIS – Asia Pacific, and will be a member of abrdn’s Asia-Pacific and Global MAIS teams. Choudhury was formerly at State Street Global Advisors where he served in a range of portfolio manager roles over a 17-year period in both the UK and Australia. Most recently he was State Street’s head of Investment Strategy & Research – Australia.

RBC Wealth Management announced that its head of wealth management for Southeast Asia, Michael Reed, was retiring after 22 years in various roles across the firm. Reed, who has worked in the US, the UK, Hong Kong and Singapore, left the Canadian firm in the middle of June. With Reed’s departure, Nick Chan, head private banking, North Asia, took on a broader remit to lead RBC Wealth Management’s sales and relationship teams across Hong Kong and Singapore. Chan joined RBC Wealth Management in December 2021.

Marcel Ivison was named in the newly-created role as IQ-EQ’s head of debt, capital markets and corporates, for Asia-Pacific. Ivision has more than 25 years’ experience leading structured project finance, debt and M&A for international commercial and investment banks. He has served as an advisor to various government and leading private sector companies across a range of areas, including renewables, infrastructure, transportation and energy.

Golden Gate Ventures, the Singapore-based venture capital funds, made a number of appointments to its team. Dea Sujardi, former head of Indonesia, took the role of senior advisor in Indonesia. 

After two years with the firm, Andri Wardhani, senior associate, moved on to a new opportunity.

Building on her tenure at Golden Gate Ventures, Kelly Ang, expanded her role under an investor relations track, with the anticipated influx of investor capital flowing into the region. Freddy Shen, an associate, moved to a corporate venture capital role after three years with the firm to focus on later-stage investment.

UBS appointed Michelle Shi as head chief investment officer for global investment management’s alternative solutions business in Asia-Pacific. Shi is based in Hong Kong and reports functionally to Johannes Roth in Zurich, as well as locally to Monica Chatterjee and Adrian Zuercher. Shi joined from GE Asset Management, State Street Global Advisors, where she spent a decade as head of Asia private equity. Prior to GE Asset Management, Shi was at ADM Capital for seven years, where she led the funds investments in various regional markets.