Michael Benz, a former senior manager at UBS, has taken up his post as head for the Asia Pacific region at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, the US firm confirmed to this publication today.

Benz manages all aspects of wealth management and private banking for the region, news reports said.

He was previously with UBS, where he worked in investment banking, asset management and wealth management in Switzerland, Singapore, Tokyo and Hong Kong since 1993. Details of a media report were confirmed by a Merrill Lynch spokesperson.