Former Merrill advisor tapped to oversee ultra-high-end offerings in U.S.. Credit Suisse has made former Merrill Lynch advisor William Woodson head of family-wealth management within its Private Banking USA division.

Real-world experience

Woodson will be based in Chicago. He will report to Paul Simons, head of "client solutions" for the Swiss bank's private-banking business in the Western hemisphere.

"Bill has a long and successful history in serving the complex needs of individuals and families of significant wealth," says Simons. "He will be instrumental in leading the group to expand our offering and delivery to this important client segment."

Woodson was senior partner of a wealth-advisory team at Merrill, where his team provided services such as investment consulting, risk management, tax, estate and philanthropic planning to ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families. Before Merrill Lynch, he was a managing director at myCFO, now part of Harris Private Bank.

At Credit Suisse, Woodson will be responsible for developing and delivering services such as wealth planning, investment management, tax, trust and inter-generational wealth transfer strategies to wealthy U.S. families.

Private Banking USA is part of Credit Suisse Securities, Zurich-based Credit Suisse's U.S. brokerage unit. -FWR

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