The move represents a return to the country for the Swiss citizen, who has spent the past decade and a half working in Singapore to drive business for clients choosing to base themselves in Asia.

A senior figure at Julius Baer who has led international private banking teams in Singapore for 17 years is returning to the Swiss bank’s Lugano office to create a new group.

Alberto Maria Martinelli moved back to Switzerland at the start of April to build a new team with a focus on serving international clients, the Zurich-listed firm said in a statement today.

Martinelli has started building and leading a new team in Lugano focusing on business acquisition and the business development of international clientele. He will report to Sergio Leoni, group head Italy and Ticino for Julius Baer, it said in a statement.

Prior to working at Julius Baer, Martinelli was at UBS. He managed a number of Julius Baer’s initiatives in Asia, working with ultra-high net worth and HNW individuals and families who choose Asia as their home.

“Thanks to his extensive career in the financial industry, he brings with him remarkable investment and management expertise, combined with a deep understanding of our clients. His outstanding experience in Asia will be of great benefit in building the new international team in Ticino. I am confident that, thanks to his many years of expertise, we are in a very good position to provide excellent service to our clientele,” Leoni said.