This publication is delighted to announce winners of the Eighth WealthBriefing European Awards, for 2020. We congratulate the winners and thank the judges for their diligence and expertise. Here we set out their citations for winners of these categories. 

The awards programme salutes outstanding achievement and progress across the European wealth management sphere, and that excellence has never been more in evidence than during the past 12 months.

Once again, the team at WealthBriefing congratulates the winners and finalists firms, and thanks all who took part for their support. For more information about these awards, sponsors and judges, click here.

The headline sponsor for this programme is the world leading client lifecycle management solutions provider Finantix, and category sponsors are asset management marketing specialists ProFundCom and smartKYC the leaders in automated KYC verification.

BEST FRONT OFFICE SOLUTION
SS&C Advent
This firm offers full front to back office integration capability. At its core it is intuitive, and its interface is easy to use.

BEST TRANSACTION PROCESSING SOLUTION - BANKS
Avaloq
In this category our judges’ eyes were caught by the winner’s industrial strength TPS which offers excellent straight-through processing rates.

BEST TRANSACTION PROCESSING SOLUTION - INDEPENDENT ASSET MANAGERS
Expersoft
Among finalists the winning firm stood out for having managed to solve the multiple custodial platforms issues that plague normal processes.

BEST PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
swissQuant Group 
This firm was described as a clear winner not just for its approach to next-gen portfolio management, but also for its refreshing methodology and innovation.

BEST CLIENT COMMUNICATIONS
Dorsum
In this category our winner caught the eye for its sophisticated notification system and messaging facility. Judges were also drawn to what they described as its very interesting automated chat bot.

BEST CLIENT REPORTING
SimCorp Coric 
Judges described their winner as “ubiquitous and prolific.”They also recognised that its reporting process is used in custody and administration spheres, which, they said “speaks volumes.”

BEST COMPLIANCE
Fenergo
With a strong partner network and continuous reviews, our winner was regarded as a worthy recipient of this award.

BEST CRM SYSTEM
AM-One 
With a robust out-of-the-box solution at a lower price point, our winner hosts its CRM system in the cloud.

BEST OUTSOURCING SOLUTION
Multrees Investor Services
This category produced a lively discussion. The winner was noted for having a well-rounded offering with lots of ancillary products, especially for boutiques.

BEST DATA PROVIDER
Preqin

BEST IN CLIENT ACCOUNTING
FundCount
With many client gains over the last year, our winner offers an integrated wealth management portfolio and partnership accounting system with a real-time general ledger embedded on a single platform.

It prides itself on its efficiency, reduced operational risk and lower cost base; an approach that underpinned sustained growth throughout 2019. Judges were also impressed by its “Nested Entity Control Centre,” a tool used for inter-entity reconciliation and investment activity disbursement through different entities.

BEST IN RISK PROFILING SOLUTION
Oxford Risk
In our judge’s opinion, this was a clear win for this firm because of the way it focuses solidly on the investor. A true risk profiling specialist.

BEST IN RISK MANAGEMENT
Edgelab
In this category our winner stood out for its differentiated offering and post revaluation approach.

BEST IN ONBOARDING
Fenergo 
Our winner clearly demonstrated the scale that comes from having a commercial banking background and what this has brought into the wealth space.

MOST INNOVATIVE CLIENT SOLUTION (VENDORS)
BITA Risk 
In simple terms, it was their winner’s ESG profiles that impressed the judges in this category.

BEST CHANGE MANAGEMENT PROCESS/BEST IMPLEMENTATION OF A TECHNOLOGY SOLUTION
Appway
With more than 510,000 users worldwide our winner is the world leader for client onboarding and wider client lifecycle management in this sector. Its solutions cover the entire client lifecycle, including updating and closing business relationships. The panel was impressed by its global presence and a case study for an international bank which illustrated its Client Life Cycle Target Operating Model.

BEST INNOVATIVE FINTECH SOLUTION
Overstone 
The winning firm offers access to a new and burgeoning asset class thereby giving clients the ability to leverage their art holdings.

MOST INNOVATIVE CLIENT SOLUTION (In-house)
BNP Paribas Wealth Management
One judge said that the winning firm was “good, both on paper and in actuality.”  Another added that “they really go the extra mile to be client focused.”

BEST CHANGE MANAGEMENT PROCESS/BEST IMPLEMENTATION OF A TECHNOLOGY SOLUTION (In-house)
Julius Baer
Throughout its 130-year history the winner of this category embraces change to remain at the forefront of our industry. Its “Digital Advisory Suite” (DiAS) is unique in that it communicates information whilst monitoring risk. Risk notifications are calculated overnight and displayed on users’ systems.

BEST IN CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY/ DIVERSITY
Tribe Impact Capital - winner
Lots of very strong statistics were provided to illustrate the winning firm’s credentials in this category. Judges said that it lives its values in every element of its activities and is to be applauded for balancing social and environmental responsibilities so well. 
Coutts & Co – highly commended
The highly commended firm in this category attracted approving comments for its staff-led diversity programme.

BEST WEALTH MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVE SEARCH FIRM (EUROPE)
Stephenson Executive Search
Described as tenacious, innovative, and respectful, the recipient of this award is a family-owned headhunting firm dedicated to this jurisdiction’s wealth management sector.  Its submission included a number of case studies that illustrated the ethos that drives it forward.

BEST INTERNATIONAL FINANCE CENTRE
Jersey Finance
When it comes to innovating to stay ahead, complying with international standards and keeping a global edge, this IFC continues to impress. Judges liked its examples of continued success and noted how it aims to position in a world after Brexit. 

BEST GLOBAL CUSTODIAN TO PRIVATE CLIENT BUSINESSES
BNY Mellon | Pershing - winner
Custody is a scale business and matching that with great client service is a vital combination. The judges take the view that this firm, which is backed by one of the largest financial firms in the US, ticks all the right boxes.
Multrees Investor Services - highly commended
The judges wanted to commend this firm for its bespoke approach and attention to clients’ needs.

BEST WEALTH PLANNING TEAM 
Close Brothers Asset Management
The firm’s wealth planning team provides a comprehensive offering that extends to every element of its clients’ lives, doing so with a mixture of traditional service and technology enablement.

BEST PHILANTHROPY OFFERING/ INITIATIVE 
ABN AMRO Private Banking - winner
The judges loved their winner’s innovative pricing model, where clients pay what they feel their advice is worth along with their own donation approach to projects.

MOST PROMISING NEW ENTRANT
Tickr

MOST INNOVATIVE WEALTH MANAGEMENT MODEL
Tribe Impact Capital
Our winner offers a total focus on impact investing coupled with rock-solid performance data thus proving that this investment approach reaps rewards. We were impressed by how this firm pushes boundaries to explain and act upon its ideas. 

MOST PROMISING MERGER
Dolfin
This London-based wealth boutique opened for business in 2013 and has grown to the extent that today it employs a team of more than 100 people with an international presence and its own bespoke technology.  "Its acquisition of Falcon Private Bank's UK business in 2019 gave impetus to this growth to the extent that its portfolio has gained an additional $1 billion in assets and 300 new accounts."

BEST M&A ADVISOR
PwC
This year’s winner was the lead diligence partner in the landmark Wealth Management deal of the year: Tilney Group’s acquisition of Smith and Williamson, which created a combined business with around £45 billion AuM. Our judges were drawn to this comment on the deal from Tilney Group’s CFO: “PwC were able to mobilise resources very quickly and effectively to help us work out whether there was a commercial problem, work out what the commercial solution was to that commercial problem and still get the deal done.”

EXCELLENCE IN SERVICING NORTH AMERICAN CLIENTS (SUPPORTED BY FAMILY WEALTH REPORT)  
Coutts
The judges felt their winner offered the kind of full-service offering that North American clients are looking for, along with a commitment to client service that impressed.

BEST MARKETING or PR CAMPAIGN
Barclays Private Bank (Smarter Giving Campaign)
The judges thought this campaign serves as a case study in wealth management marcomms. The winning firm’s commitment to measuring success and quantifying impact across the firm was favourably received.

BEST PRIVATE CLIENT LAW FIRM
Stephenson Harwood
The judges were very impressed by the way this firm has embraced new technologies and communications channels in order to put its message across. When coupled with the strength of its private client advice, breadth of coverage and highly rated experts, it offers clients a potent combination.

BEST OFFSHORE LAW FIRM
Carey Olsen
With an on-the-ground presence in such a large number of countries when compared with many of its peers this firm demonstrated how it performs a wide range of complex tasks for clients. It also has a keen appreciation of the constant changes in the offshore landscape. 

INTERNATIONAL LEGAL & FIDUCIARY TEAM 
Druces
This firm’s international capabilities are clear and impressive, touching on exactly the kind of cross-border expertise that certain clients need. In today’s environment such capabilities are particularly noteworthy.

BEST PRIVATE CLIENT LAWYER
Emily Osborne, Stephenson Harwood
This exceptional private client lawyer has been involved in some formidable cases, working across a range of complex issues, and doing so in a manner that has impressed all who have come to know her. 

BEST INDEPENDENT TRUST or FIDUCIARY COMPANY
IQ-EQ - winner
The judges liked the winning scale and breadth of coverage. Furthermore, it is a technology innovator too, qualities that are of increasing importance. 
Accuro – highly commended
Assessors were impressed by how this firm is now totally management owned and tightly aligned with its clients’ interests.

BEST INSTITUTIONAL TRUST or FIDUCIARY COMPANY
RBC Wealth Management
This firm has significantly refocused in recent years and this submission demonstrated the way it maintains a clear focus on staff development initiatives and client engagement.

BEST ESTATE PLANNING
ABN AMRO Private Banking
The winner of this category is a leading European private bank that impressed judges with its multi-domestic model that gives clients international access and local knowledge. 

Judges were also struck by its investment in staff training through a continuous personal and development programme. 

BEST MANAGEMENT CONSULTANCY
Sionic
Our winner is not one of the largest in its category, but it punches above its weight and has carved out a space around corporate governance.  It has also developed a new Board Effectiveness Review Framework for wealth managers - an important area with such focus on governance issues today

BEST SPECIALIST WEALTH MANAGER
Bordier UK
In a strong field of finalist firms, the winner for specialist wealth manager demonstrated an impressive ability to deliver consistent positive returns for its UK client base and is to be commended for its track record.

BEST SPECIALIST INVESTMENT MANAGER
Impax Asset Management
The winning firm’s entry evidenced a complete, scalable solution which demonstrated good growth and performance numbers.

BEST PRIVATE INVESTMENT OFFICE
CapGen Partners
The judges praised this firm’s emphasis on institutional quality reporting and proactive approach to Next-Gen engagement. A highly professional approach is in evidence overall.

BEST MULTI-FAMILY OFFICE
Stonehage Fleming
An excellent submission that evidenced the breadth of offering worthy of being called a multi-family office. Our winner provides a professionalised and modern approach to wealth management across the generations.

BEST FUND MANAGER
Sanlam
The launch of this firm’s real assets fund shows its shift towards innovative products and a commitment to keeping pace with changing client preferences.

BEST INVESTMENT PRODUCT PROVIDER
Block Asset Management
This year’s winner is a blockchain and digital assets focused alternative investment fund manager and the first within the crypto space to be registered with the Luxembourg regulator (CSSF). 

Having researched around 80 funds in the crypto sector to ensure they were sufficiently robust they launched the world’s first blockchain and crypto-focused Fund of Funds.  Last year this fund outperformed Bitcoin and the Eurekahedge Crypto HFI.

BEST ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENT MANAGER
Gresham House
Our winner is a dedicated alternatives house that has shown truly excellent performance and strong asset growth off the back of that.  A worthy winner.

BEST EXTERNAL ASSET MANAGEMENT PLATFORM AND OFFERING 
Julius Baer
The needs of intermediaries are at the heart of our winner’s strategy and it has shown real efforts to give external assets managers cutting-edge technology.

BEST PLATFORM PROVIDER
Evooq 
Judges recognised that the business has achieved impressive growth in a number of hotly contested markets. They also wished to commend it for providing a clear explanation of its unique selling points to wealth managers.

BEST ETF PROVIDER
DWS XTrackers
  

BEST WEALTH MANAGEMENT BUSINESS SERVICING the PRINCIPALITY of MONACO
BNP Paribas Wealth Management
The winner offers clients highly specialised solutions fine-tuned to the needs and demands of this unique local market. Clients also have the reassurance of the backing of a major international banking enterprise. Other than a dedicated private banker, clients also have access to a local office brimming with expertise in a range of specialisms including advisory, discretionary portfolio management, wealth planning, real estate, yacht and jet financing and compliance. 

BEST WEALTH MANAGEMENT BUSINESS SERVICING THE CENTRAL OR EASTERN EUROPE REGION
UBP
Judges thought their winner evidenced strengths across this region, noted its double digital growth and commented on its team banking approach. Its Russian-speaking investment advisory team and currencies capabilities also impressed.

BEST EUROPEAN PRIVATE BANK CUSTOMER FACING DIGITAL CAPABILITIES  
ABN AMRO Private Banking
The judges were particularly impressed by their winner’s “investment butler” and efforts to bring wealth management to life through digital engagement.

BEST EUROPEAN PRIVATE BANK CREDIT PROVIDER
Societe Generale Private Banking
The metrics provided in the winning firm’s entry told a strong story of growth and commitment to innovation.  Its comprehensive credit offering for sophisticated clients drew the panel to a unanimous verdict in their favour.

BEST EUROPEAN PRIVATE BANK – TALENT MANAGEMENT
Nykredit Private Banking
Judges were attracted to the way their winner ensures that recruits not only have solid foundational skill sets but are also emotionally intelligent with a high EQ.  
KPIs are team-oriented with mid-level management holding motivational and performance meetings, and offering a range of additional support including meditation.

BEST EUROPEAN PRIVATE BANK – INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT PLATFORM
Lombard Odier
The bank provides a quality investment management platform and an innovative technology approach that in the judges’ view are highly distinctive.

BEST EUROPEAN PRIVATE BANK – CLIENT SERVICE 
Nykredit Private Banking
This year’s winner has made admirable efforts over the last year to focus on systematising the provision of surprise and delight moments for its portfolio of clients.
Lombard Odier – highly commended
Our panel wished to commend this firm for the focus it places on driving innovation across its work for clients, and not just technologically.

BEST HNW TEAM - EUROPE
BNP Paribas Wealth Management
The winning entry for this category clearly demonstrated a tailored approach to clients’ needs which showed accelerating digital transformation to facilitate the client journey in a thoughtful way.

BEST UHNW TEAM - EUROPE
Societe Generale Private Banking
The panel recognised that the attractions of this bank’s offering to ultra-high net worth clients was underscored by strong client growth. They particularly liked the synergies with the wider banking group as presented in their excellent submission.

BEST INTERNATIONAL CLIENTS TEAM - EUROPE
Schroder & Co Bank
Throughout 2019 our winner has progressively developed its international team operating from Switzerland and the UK. The judging panel were also impressed by its total commitment in this field and strong financial performance over the year.

BEST DOMESTIC EUROPEAN CLIENTS TEAM 
BNP Paribas Wealth Management
Size, rating and innovation all impressed; the winner of this category that also demonstrated a comprehensive offering that ticked all the judges’ boxes.

BEST OVERALL EUROPEAN PRIVATE BANK 
ABN AMRO Private Banking
In this instance our winner showed an admirable focus on proactively going out to clients and unflinchingly asking for guidance on how they can improve to reinvent the customer experience. Strong NPS scores and a sustainability focus also really impressed the judges.

BEST PRIVATE BANK CUSTOMER FACING DIGITAL (Investments) - UK
EFG Private Bank
The winner of this award is one of Switzerland’s largest private banks with 40 locations worldwide and a listing on the SIX Swiss Exchange. It appreciates that it carries responsibility for managing client and staff relationships built on teamwork, trust, respect, top class communication, empathetic support and a shared vision. 

BEST PRIVATE BANK – CREDIT PROVIDER - UK
Brown Shipley, a Quintet Private Bank
With a demonstrable focus on the real-life solutions to client’s requirements, and by innovating their credit offering in a responsive way this bank was regarded as a worthy winner of this category.

BEST PRIVATE BANK – TALENT MANAGEMENT and DIVERSITY - UK
Barclays Private Bank
This year’s winner is one of the UK’s largest personal, business, corporate, and investment banking groups, with a global presence reaching back 325 years. 
Judges were intrigued and impressed by Its “colleague forum”, designed to ensure the development of mutual interests across staff has four elements: “Nurtured Development”, “Belonging and Engagement”, “Diversity and Inclusion”, and “Right People, Right Culture”. 

BEST PRIVATE BANK – INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT PLATFORM - UK 
Multrees Investor Services
A comprehensive offering within the UK marketplace with strong evidence of the firm continuing to upgrade its platform.

BEST PRIVATE BANK – Client Service - UK
Lombard Odier
Our winner is able to draw on 220 years’ history of dedicated client service and stability. It offers clients a clear strategy and proposition that combines the best of its universal banking and multi- family office/independent offerings. In 2019, it enriched this approach with a bespoke, discretionary investment service centred on a holistic “goal-based” approach that benefits on a new version of its award-winning e-banking interface. 

BEST UK CHARITY TEAM 
Barclays Private Bank
This bank maintains a really impressive focus on upskilling trustees and providing accessible, actionable thought-leadership for them. It also offers an impressive array of metrics which served to convince judges of their winning credentials in a tightly contested field.

BEST HNW TEAM - UK 
Coutts
The panel said it was impressed with their winner’s relationship focus and ambitions to deliver a digitally enabled service model in this tightly contested category. 

BEST UHNW TEAM - UK 
HSBC Private Banking
The winner impressed with its deep and broad offering which, when combined with a highly experienced team made for a very impressive entry. Even the most sophisticated of UHNW investors would find little missing here.

BEST UK-BASED INTERNATIONAL CLIENTS TEAM 
HSBC Private Banking
Our panel praised the bank’s strong commitment to its international client’s business, and this is reflected in its AuM and client growth figures. In summary our winner offers an excellent platform for international clients.

BEST DOMESTIC CLIENTS TEAM 
Barclays Private Bank
The winning team in this category stood out for its synergies with the wider banking group and strong growth figures. Its submission also showed a clear emphasis on the team’s expertise and collaborative approach; factors which really made its submission stand out in a tight field.

BEST OVERALL UK PRIVATE BANK
Coutts
In a strong field, this bank stood out for creating a real sense of community for its clients and bringing a comprehensive, rich offering to complement its iconic brand.

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION to WEALTH MANAGEMENT THOUGHT LEADERSHIP (company)
EY
The depth and breadth of the material provided by this firm, whether it is on technology, Brexit, business models or client experience, is vast, and hard to ignore.

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO WEALTH MANAGEMENT THOUGHT LEADERSHIP (INDIVIDUAL) 
Stephane Monier - Lombard Odier
The panel regarded their winner as a truly prolific thought-leader whose output is engaging for technical specialist and “lay” end-investor alike. His commentaries cut right to the heart of the issues he addresses, with many focused on sustainability themes that are so important today. Judges said his is a very important voice as the industry evolves.

LEADING INDIVIDUAL (advisor)
Rachel Reynolds, Ogier
The sheer volume of the impressive casework conducted by this person, coupled with the range of her expertise, were regarded as big pluses. As head of her firm’s global disputes resolution team and having been the first female partner in its Cayman office, she is a standout lawyer in her field.

LEADING INDIVIDUAL (BANKER) 
David Treen - Barclays Private Bank
Our winner has enjoyed a meteoric rise as a private banker having initially begun work as a farmer. He has brought his firm a very impressive amount of assets and is evidently a key player in the further strategic development of the business.