New York’s BNY Mellon has appointed Christopher Ross as a senior portfolio manager within its Washington DC wealth management office. 

Ross is in charge of client relationships and investment strategy, reporting to regional president Susan Traver. He joined from Wells Fargo Private Bank, where he was responsible for client investment management, planning and balance sheet management. He joined Wells Fargo from Neuberger Berman in 2010.

BNY Mellon Wealth Management launched its DC office last November, hiring Traver from Wells Fargo Private Bank, where she had served as regional managing director in Washington DC.

The market is a competitive one for wealth managers. In April, Wilmington Trust added four wealth advisors, also from Wells Fargo Private Bank, to a newly-established Washington DC office.

Meanwhile, last month was a busy period for BNY Mellon. At the start of June it added Patrick Cappatt as a senior sales director throughout the Pittsburgh region. In the same week the firm appointed Edward Watson as executive vice president and chief operations officer – a newly-created position at the firm.

Tom Hamilton was then brought into its team of wealth strategists for the western Pennsylvania, Ohio and greater Chicago, IL, businesses. Lastly, Jeffrey Mortimer joined as director of investment strategy for its wealth management unit, as reported by Bloomberg.

BNY Mellon Wealth Management has $176 billion in private client assets.