The senior hires reflect the group’s commitment to strengthening its local presence in the region.

Swiss private bank Lombard Odier has added former Julius Baer senior figures Rogerio Zanin and Juliana Lage to its office in São Paulo, Brazil. 

Their experience in wealth and relationship management will allow the group to expand its presence in Brazil, which remains a core strategic market for the Geneva-based firm. 

Starting this month, Zanin will be the new head of their local operations in São Paulo and Lage will coordinate the operational initiatives as chief operating officer for Brazil, the firm said in a statement. 

Mariella Assumpção Gontijo, who has led the Brazilian operation until now, will be leaving Lombard Odier in February to focus on personal projects. 

With almost 30 years of experience in the Brazilian financial market, Zanin is joining from the Julius Baer Family Office, where he headed the commercial area and was part of the executive committee. He was a partner at GPS Investimentos prior to the company’s acquisition by Julius Baer. Before joining GPS Investimentos, he also worked at JP Morgan and Unibanco.

Lage is also joining from the Julius Baer Family Office, where she was a senior relationship manager. Prior to this, she worked at GPS Investimentos, where she was responsible for defining and implementing a middle office department dedicated to onboarding and settlements for ultra-high net worth individuals, the firm continued.

Marc Braendlin, head of Latin American markets at Lombard Odier, said: “The addition of Rogerio and Juliana to our team underlines our commitment to the Brazilian market. It also reinforces the relevance of our value proposition in providing clients with a unique combination of Swiss private banking heritage and the services of an independent boutique private bank.”   

“We are confident that their extensive experience in business development and key client relationship expertise will build on Lombard Odier’s solid presence in Brazil, ensuring our continued growth in this important market," Stephen Kamp, head of Southern Europe and Latin America for private clients, said.

 Lombard Odier has total client assets of SFr310 billion ($334 billion). 

For its part, the aforementioned Julius Baer has made a number of Latin America-related hires.