Here WealthBriefingAsia profiles the movers and shakers of the wealth management industry during June 2012.

Alex Jagmetti, the former head of Asia-Pacific for Falcon Private Bank, resurfaced at Swiss private banking boutique Gonet & Cie as head of Asia. Jagmetti left Falcon in October 2011 in the midst of a restructuring. He has been based in Asia for around a decade, serving as managing director with HSBC and then UBS, before becoming head of Asia-Pacific for Abu Dhabi-owned Falcon Private Bank.

Wilson HTM Investment Group, the Australian wealth management firm, added three advisors to its Melbourne team. David Permezel was named senior institutional advisor, Robert Ward senior investment advisor and Ivor Ries senior research analyst. Permezel was previously an equity partner and institutional advisor at EL & C Baillieu, Ward used to be an equity partner and director from EL & C, while Ries was an equity analyst and financial journalist for the likes of The Age and the Australian Financial Review.

Barclays, the UK bank, strengthened its emerging markets research unit with the appointment of Dr Nigel Chalk as managing director and head of emerging Asia research based in Singapore. Chalk joined the company from the International Monetary Fund, where he served as China mission chief and senior advisor on Greater China and Mongolia. He has been with the IMF since 1997. 

CME Group, the US-based derivatives and risk management firm, appointed Izumi Kazuhara as executive director for its Japan office. Kazuhara brings considerable experience in the exchanges and derivatives industries, having previously worked for EUREX and NYSE Euronext. The position is based in Tokyo.

Barclays named Rickie Chan as market head for the Hong Kong wealth and investment management arm effective 16 August 2012. Chan was previously an executive director at Goldman Sachs, where he led a team of bankers serving ultra high net worth clients in Hong Kong. He worked for 16 years at Goldman Sachs, most of which involved UHNW affairs. He will report to Pakorn Boonya-kurkul, head of wealth management for North Asia. 

John Wang, former global market manager for Taiwan at Citi Private Bank, landed a new role setting up the family office business of Fubon Bank (Hong Kong). Wang left Citi in February 2012 after spending just over a year at the company. His role at Citi was taken over by Steven Lo, head of private banking for Hong Kong and Taiwan, on an interim basis. 

Insurance Australia Group appointed David McClatchy as chief investment officer, succeeding John Stratton who had taken up a similar post at Brit Insurance. McClatchy was previously a business investment consultant at the company.

DBS Group appointed Neil Ge as its China CEO-designate, from his previous role as managing director of Credit Suisse's Chinese joint venture. Prior to Credit Suisse, Ge was a managing director and a member of the executive committee at BOC International Holdings. As a result, Melvin Teo, the incumbent DBS China CEO, is moving to a new posting within DBS Group, to be announced in due course.

Veco Group, the Swiss-headquartered investment management firm, opened its first office in Asia. Hong Kong-based Veco Invest (Asia) is now led by Peter Lee as managing director, bringing with him over 20 years of investment and banking experience. Chosen to lead the trust arm was George Pathmanathan, tasked to advise clients on asset protection, estate planning and wealth transfer.

Clearstream International, the Luxembourg-based central securities depository, announced the departure of Asia-Pacific client relations head Philippe Metoudi effective 31 July 2012. Metoudi leaves the firm after 20 years in service. His old responsibilities will be shared by Robert Tabet as head of South Asia, Middle East and Africa based in Singapore and Dubai, and Alton Chan as head of North Asia based in Hong Kong and Tokyo. The dual leadership setup is a result of a revised organisational structure for the Asian business.

Bennelong Funds Management, the Australian investment manager, named Jeff Phillips as its new chief financial officer. Phillips joined from Antares, formerly Aviva Investors/Portfolio Partners, where he was CIO and chief financial officer for Asia-Pacific. Also hired were Hamish Wood as group finance manager reporting to Phillips, Nicole Hammond as senior fund accountant and Angela Cavuoto as assistant accountant.

Crescent Point Group, the Singapore-based private equity firm, partnered with investment management veteran Charles Stone to launch Crescent Hill Capital Management, a new hedge fund designed as a long/short equities offering with around 30 positions in the Asia-Pacific region. The company hired Arti Hatzirodos as chief operating officer and QiQi Shi as analyst. Hatzirodos used to be the managing director of investment software provider Tradar Asia, while Shi was a member of the Riley Paterson investment team in Singapore.

Friends Life, the parent company of investment manager Friends Provident International, appointed James Lai-Hing Tan as the new general manager for Asia and the Middle East. Tan is now based in the firm's Hong Kong branch. He reports directly to John van der Wielen, chief executive, international.

Sun Jie was named chairman of The China Fund Association, China's first dedicated self-regulatory organisation launched recently in Beijing. The organisation functions as an industry standards body specific to the fund management sector. Beneath him are two full-time vice-chairmen, Han Kang, who serves as deputy director of China Securities Regulatory Commission's Shanghai bureau, and Cao Dianyi, a former director of CSRC’s Heilongjiang bureau.

TORA, the Tokyo-based electronic trading, technology and financial services provider, hired Momoko Itoh as head of sales for Singapore. She joined from Goldman Sachs in Tokyo, where she had over 11 years of investment management experience, mostly in Japan. She now reports to Chris Jenkins, managing director for Asia-Pacific.

Indian conglomerate Kotak Mahindra announced two senior leadership changes in its international and asset management businesses. Gaurang Shah, president of asset management and life insurance, was given the added responsibility for overseeing various businesses of the Kota Group outside India. He has worked at the firm for the last 15 years. Paul Parambi, previously the head of international business, moved to become head of group strategy. Parambi replaced TV Raghunath, whose next step is as yet unconfirmed.

Michael Luo was chosen to lead the Putnam Investments' newly-opened Beijing branch as chief representative. Luo joined the US investment advisory firm from Invesco Great Wall in Shenzhen. Prior to that, he was an advisor at China Investment Corporation in Beijing.

Founder Fubon Fund, the first China-Taiwan asset management joint venture, announced that Song Yinong, general manager, has exited the firm. His position was filled on a temporary basis by the firm’s managing director, Lei Jei.

Eastspring Investments, the fund management subsidiary of Prudential Corporation Asia, launched two offices in the US. The Americas arm is now led by Jeffrey Smith, who is joined by Pamela Aurbach as senior vice-president of institutional sales. Smith was previously the head of distribution at Performance Trust Investment Advisors, while Aurbach stepped in from Jackson National Life Distributors.

US investment manager BlackRock hired Andrew Landman as head of alternatives in Australia. Landman was previously from Ascalon Capital where he served as chief executive.

Bradley Okita, the chief executive of asset management at the Asia-Pacific arm of Switzerland's EFG, left the company after 18 months on the role. It is not clear where he has gone. He was succeeded by Nigel Sze who was appointed head of Asia. Sze moved from being deputy CEO for EFG Bank Asia and head of private banking in Hong Kong. Harmen Overdijk was also promoted to the newly-created role of head of investments. Replacements to Overdijk's and Sze's old posts have yet to be named.

Executive search firms Global Sage and The Rose Partnership have signed an agreement aimed at creating one of the world's biggest financial services search firms. The deal will see the two firms co-locating their teams in London and Hong Kong.

Australian wealth manager IOOF Holdings appointed Graham Smith as investment specialist for its WealthBuilder investment bond unit. Smith joined from State Street Global Advisors, where he spent the last eight years with the firm's exchange traded and unlisted funds division.

HSBC Global Asset Management named Cecilia Chan, a veteran of HSBC for 18 years, to lead its newly-launched HSBC RMB Fixed Income Fund. The fund provides US investors access to China's bond market using Chinese currency.

Former Goldman Sachs Japan president Mark Schwartz was rehired as vice chairman of the firm and chairman of Goldman Sachs Asia-Pacific. Schwartz, now Beijing-based, succeeded Michael Evans, who was named vice chairman and global head of growth markets based in New York. Schwartz returned from MissionPoint Capital Partners which he co-founded in 2006.

Fidelity Worldwide Investment named Daniel Roberts as portfolio manager to the recently launched global dividend fund in Hong Kong. The fund is meant to produce income by investing in global equity securities. Roberts is supported by the firm's London-based global equity income team. 

Equity Trustees strengthened its Australian business with the creation of a new private wealth services division and the appointment of Geoff Rimmer as head. Rimmer was previously the chief executive of Financial Services Partners. In this new role, he is responsible for the firm's entire superannuation, trustee, wealth management and aged care operations. 

Manulife Asset Management hired Elka Leung as a managing director and head of product development for Asia, from UK investment manager Barclays Global Investors, based in Hong Kong.

AMP Capital rejigged its Asian equities team by cutting four staff, hiring three former BNP Paribas bankers in Hong Kong and relocating two existing team members to the region. Patrick Ho joined as head of Greater China equities based in Hong Kong from BNP Paribas Investment Partners where he was head of Greater China equities since 2005. Eugene So and Sam Ho joined as portfolio managers/analysts, also from BNP Paribas Investment Partners.The three will join AMP Capital in September 2012.

Meanwhile senior portfolio manager Jonathan Reoch will relocate from Sydney to Hong Kong in September, as head of Asia ex-Greater China.

Citi appointed Jonathan Larsen as head of global retail banking, based in Asia. He is currently head of Asia-Pacific consumer banking, and will also keep his regional role.

BNP Paribas Wealth Management hired seven senior private bankers for its China and Hong Kong teams - most of whom are Credit Suisse alumni. These include Ivan Ching, Alex Xu, Maggie Zhang, Mandy Koo, Louisa Yau and Wincy Ching. On the products and services front, BNP appointed Garth Bregman as as regional head of discretionary portfolio management for Asia, based in Singapore.

Experian, the UK-listed information services firm named Ben Elliott as managing director, Experian Decision Analytics, Asia Pacific. He was previously network director for retail banking at Lloyds Banking Group.

Mercer Investments hired of a team of advisors from Sovereign Investment Research. Ray King, together with consultants Sarah Azzi and Scott McNally, will move to Mercer effective 2 July, taking with them their existing client base.

Fitzpatricks Private Wealth hired John McMurdo as managing director to oversee the firm's entire financial planning and wealth management business in Australia. Also newly appointed is Chris Cuffe as non-executive director. Cuffe used to be part of the wealth management units of Colonial First State and Challenger Financial Services Group.

Franklin Templeton Investments Australia appointed Jenine Hayman as business development manager for its retail advice distribution team, based in Sydney.

Bravura Solutions, the financial software specialist, hired Mani Kastellas as product consultant for wrap and investment. His appointment followed the promotion of Michelle Lusty to product manager for Sonata, the wealth management application suite.

Australian wealth manager Yellow Brick Road, hired Peter Daly as head for its financial services unit, from Australian Financial Services where he was a chief executive.

Australian wealth manager Perpetual will adjust its staff numbers in favor or a new and smaller leadership team and create a new division, the transformation office, to execute these changes. The asset sales and reorganisation program is expected to deliver ongoing annual cost savings of $50 million pre-tax by the full year 2015.

Premium China Funds Management, the funds management arm of Australian firm Simon Wu & Company, internally appointed Jonathan Wu, currently PCFM associate director and head of distribution and operations, to lead national key accounts and Western Australia. Wu's previous responsibilities, which focused on Queensland and South Australia, will be passed on to Derek Paas and Alexandra Roos, currently Asia investment specialist managers. In addition Lyn Su takes the role of marketing assistant to support national advisors, while Sucre Chen assumes the newly-created role of research assistant.

Plan B Wealth Management added Des Luplau and Scott Harvey to its team from Horizon Investment Solutions and Candor Financial Management, respectively.

Jasia Fabig returned to MLC Advice Solutions and Godfrey Pembroke, both subsidiaries of Australian wealth manager MLC, as head of practice management effective 16 July. She was most recently as head of sales and strategy at St George Wealth, before which she was also at MLC.

Wellington Management, the US-based investment advisory firm, hired James Crawford as investment director, joining from AllianceBernstein where he was a senior portfolio manager.

Towers Watson, the global consulting firm, hired Ben Trollip as an investment research consultant. He moves from Melville Jessup Weaver.

Russell Investments' chief executive for ASEAN Mahendran Nathan stepped down after two years.

Tullett Prebon, the UK broker-dealer, hired Adrien Geliot for its alternative investments team, from Lyxor Asset Management.

HSBC named Royal Bank of Scotland economist Su Sian Lim as its new ASEAN economist for the global research unit, with responsibility for macroeconomic research on Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.

ING Investment India named a new chief executive. Nityanand Prabhu, currently chief operating officer, was elevated to acting CEO for the ASEAN, India, Hong Kong and Taiwan business, following the resignation of incumbent chief Navin Suri. Prabhu has been with the company for five years.

The Carlyle Group hired Neeraj Bharadwaj as a Mumbai-based managing director for its subsidiary Carlyle Asia Partners. He joins from Accel Partners in India.

Avendus Capital, the Indian financial services firm, hired economist Professor Eisuke Sakakibara for its advisory council. He is a key advisor to the Democractic Party of Japan and has been the country's vice minister of finance and international affairs.

Motilal Oswal Financial Services, the Indian asset management group, hired AV Srikanth as a chief executive for its private wealth business, Purple, under the Motilal Oswal Wealth Management Private arm. He joins from Anand Rathi Private Wealth Management, where he was an executive director.

Kunihiko Nakao , the president of Northern Trust's Japanese asset management business has stepped down after nearly a decade at the US investment manager.

Grace Barki, the Singapore-based head of Southeast Asia at Sarasin, left the Swiss boutique and is on the verge of joining a larger rival. Her duties will be taken up by chief executive officer of Asia, Enid Yip, until a replacement is found.

Credit Suisse appointed Karla Borland as head of its Asian mutual funds business in charge of mutual funds and exchange traded funds Asia, in Singapore. She moves to the city-state from Australia, where she is part of Credit Suisse's fund analysis and advisory arm as vice president, private bank.

Rothschild Group, named Peter Wheeler as co-head of its Southeast Asian operations, and executive vice chairman of the group. Wheeler joins from Standard Chartered, where he was group head for wholesale banking for Africa, Middle East, Europe and the Americas.

ABN AMRO Private Banking appointed Hans-Peter Borgh as chief commercial officer for Asia and Middle East, having previously worked at Australia and New Zealand Banking Group.

Neuberger Berman, expanded its Asia-Pacific team with five major hires. Thomas Holzherr is now senior vice president for business development in Hong Kong. Mark Serocold is vice president for business development in Hong Kong, Vincent Lim is senior VP for business development in Singapore; Rebecca Schrage is vice president for client services in Hong Kong, while Johnny Wong is senior VP and country head for Taiwan.

PwC Singapore executive chairman Gautam Banerjee is to retire on 31 December this year, to be succeeded by Yeoh Oon Jin, who has been a senior manager in the firm, having spent 25 years there. Yeoh - currently leader of the firm's assurance service line - will become executive chairman designate with effect from 1 July, and executive chairman on Jan 1 next year. Banerjee, who is 58 this year, will retire.