India’s Religare Enterprises has named UBS wealth management director Jasmine Arora as its director for institutional and investor relations.

Ms Arora has a background in handling ultra high net worth individuals and their family offices for the Swiss bank.

The move by Religare to spread its wings to a global market has been highlighted by WealthBriefing’s confirmation that Religare had made a $100 million acquisition of UK brokerage firm Hichens, Harrison & Co in April, 2008 - now named Religare Hichens Harrison.

Ms Azora's appointment came with the installation of current board member Deepak Chhabria as President of RHH for the Asia Pacific region. Ms Azora will be based out of New Delhi, India, while Mr Chhabria will be working from the RHH headquarters in Singapore.

Meanwhile, Religare’s purchase of Hichens has not proven a smooth transition. Since the takeover last year of Hichens, the company in London has lost the vast majority of its RM's and traders, according to a source familiar with the matter.

WealthBriefing understands that the firm paid the shareholders, who were mainly employees, in full and did not tie them into any handcuff contracts. Most of these employees have left within a few months.