The departure of a top figure has led to a number of changes in the asset management side of the business.

UBS yesterday announced top-level management changes following Suni Harford’s decision to retire from the firm as asset management head.

Aleksandar Ivanovic will be joining UBS’s group executive board as asset management president, while Beatriz Martin Jimenez will become the group executive board (GEB) lead for sustainability and impact, adding to her existing responsibilities.

These changes are effective from 1 March.

Hartford’s departure concludes a term at the firm that started in 2017, followed by becoming president for the asset management arm in 2019. The past year saw her lead the integration of Credit Suisse’s asset management activities after UBS’s takeover of its Swiss rival, an acquisition which built a combined asset management group with $1.6 trillion of AuM.

Ivanovic is client coverage head and head of the EMEA and Switzerland regions for asset management. A lifetime UBS figure, he has been at the Zurich-listed group since 1992, which he joined as an apprentice. Ivanovic has worked in all UBS business divisions – additionally he has served in various leadership roles at Credit Suisse and Morgan Stanley. 

Beatriz Martin Jimenez is taking over from Harford as GEB lead for sustainability and impact. This will slot in with her current roles as head of non-core and legacy business and president of EMEA, and UK chief executive. She joined the Swiss banking group in 2012 and has served in senior roles, including investment bank chief of staff and chief operating officer, group treasure and group head of transformation.

Earlier this week, UBS unveiled its new global brand campaign.