The wealth management arm of UBS has named Alexander Kobler as regional head of investment products and services for Asia Pacific, according to an internal memo seen by WealthBriefingAsia.

Kobler has had several senior roles in the bank, including head of wealth management research, co-head of key account management and investment advisory and head of IPS investment advisory. In his new role, he will be responsible for further building on and creating leverage for the bank's IPS APAC business.

His appointment is effective immediately. The successor for his roles as head of investment advisory and as key account manager for WM CH will be announced soon.

The move has come quickly after the previous holder of the role, Michael Benz, departed to join Bank of America Merrill Lynch as head of its wealth management division for Asia Pacific.