Credit Suisse’s global private equity chief moves to Hong Kong
Alois Müller has been appointed to the newly created role of Apac head of private and alternative markets at Credit Suisse, adding to his current job as head of global private equity.
Müller will move to Hong Kong from Zurich within the next few months to help grow the wealth manager’s alternatives and private equity business in the region.
He will report regionally to North Asia head of private banking François Monnet as well as South Asia head of private banking South Asia Benjamin Cavalli, and operationally to Fabian Shey, head of investment solution and products, private and alternative markets.
Müller has previously worked for UBS wealth management in Hong Kong and Zurich.
Citi PB on hiring spree
Citi said last week that it has hired about 650 wealth professionals in Asia Pacific this year, including 130 relationship managers and private bankers.
The recruitment drive is part of a plan to add 2,300 wealth management staff, including 1100 relationship managers and private bankers, in order to expand client assets by $150bn by 2025.
Citi recently created Citi Global Wealth, which combines its private bank and consumer wealthy business as prepares to give up its retail banking operations in Asia Pacific.
Aviva Singlife taps DBS for new group chief executive
Pearlyn Phau has been hired following the S$3.2 billion merger between Singlife and Aviva Singapore last November.
She replaces Nishit Majmudar, the current chief executive of Aviva Singapore, who will step down from his executive and board roles and become a senior advisor to the board.
Phau’s appointment, which is subject to regulatory approval, will be effective on 18 August.
Phau has held various roles within DBS Group in Singapore and Hong Kong. She is currently the group head of consumer products, marketing and ecosystem partnerships at the bank, and oversees product lines in the region.
Aviva Singlife’s interim group CEO Walter de Oude will remain on the board as deputy chairman.
HSBC AM forms climatech team
HSBC Asset Management (HSBC AM) has set up Climate Technology (Climatech) team as part of its strategy to expand direct investment capabilities in alternatives.
The team will develop a venture capital investment strategy providing clients with opportunities to invest globally in technology start-ups across the energy, transportation, insurance, agriculture and supply chain sectors that address climate change.
Christophe Defert joins as head of climate technology venture investments. He has 16 years’ experience in investment banking, private equity, corporate M&A, energy contracts and venture capital. Before joining HSBC AM, Defert spent a decade at Centrica where he built and led Centrica Innovations’ Venture effort globally.
Michael D’Aurizio joins as investment director, climate technology. He has 10 years’ experience in power, utilities, and clean energy including business strategy and venture capital, and previously led Centrica innovations’ US activities.
The team will report into Remi Bourrette, head of venture and growth investments, who joined the firm last year from HSBC Global Banking and Markets.
Gregor Hirt moves to Allianz Global Investors as global CIO for multi asset strategies
Hirt has been poached from Deutsche Bank, where he was global head of discretionary portfolio management for the private banking arm since 2019, and will join Allianz Global Investors in July.
The 25-year veteran will work with the firm’s multi asset teams in Europe, Asia and the US to develop its risk management strategies and multi asset liquid alternatives businesses.
Before Deutsche Bank, Hirt was group chief strategist and head of multi asset solutions at Vontobel Asset Management. He has also had positions at UBS Asset Management, Schroders Investment Management and Credit Suisse.
Based in Frankfurt, Hirt will report to Deborah Zurkow, who is the global head of investments. He succeeds Thomas Zimmerer, who died in November 2020.
