The private banking business in Switzerland explained a range of hires it has made, such as for bankers straddling the EMEA and Asia markets, as well as for those focused on northern Europe, Saudi Arabia, and other locations.

HSBC’s Swiss private bank, which has made a number of hires in the country in the first half of this year, says that the Alpine state is now the bank’s largest European booking centre, reporting $153 billion of assets as at the end of 2022. 

New hires include Juan Antonio Roche as head of distribution and segments, bringing experience from a career spanning Banca March, UBS and Santander, and Esty Dwek as head of investment counsellors. Dwek is re-joining HSBC following senior positions at Flowbank and Natixis IM. 

Based in Switzerland, they join a newly-established team designed to accelerate growth across the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, HSBC said in a statement yesterday. 

“We have clear ambitions to grow our business in Switzerland which is one of the cornerstones of HSBC Global Private Banking, as well as across EMEA, offering clients a seamless connection to international markets, backed by the strength and scale of one of the largest banking and financial services organisations in the world,” Gabriel Castello, CEO of HSBC Swiss Private Bank and regional head of global private banking, EMEA, said.

The bank said it is making use of its Asia footprint, generating opportunities for clients to bridge the regions. Neil De Sousa has been appointed as Europe, Middle East and Africa desk head for Asia following seven years with the bank. Klara Chan, who has been named a senior relationship manager for Asia, previously worked at Credit Suisse and JP Morgan.

Other appointments include:

-- Switzerland client coverage: Martin Hediger, who joined from UBS, has been appointed as a senior RM for Swiss domestic clients; 

-- Saudi Arabia client coverage: Mario Luis Penabad has been appointed as ultra-high net worth desk head for Saudi Arabia. He previously held senior relationship manager positions at Lombard Odier and UBS. Mathieu Brizon has been named as senior relationship manager for Saudi Arabia, also joining from Lombard Odier; 

-- Italy client coverage: Marco Ardigo, who has been appointed to a newly-created role as UHNW market head for Italy, joined from Credit Suisse; and 

-- Northern Europe and international markets client coverage: Following 10 years at the bank, Carl Forsgren has been appointed as UHNW desk head for Northern Europe and international markets.