VP Bank’s Singapore office has poached a senior relationship manager from Barclays Wealth as the first step towards larger expansion plans.

Boutique lender VP Bank office has hired a former Barclays private banker for its Singapore office, as the latest move towards an expansion drive in Asia. 

Patrick Donaldson has joined the Liechtenstein-headquartered boutique as executive director and senior relationship manager, based in Singapore, according to his Linkedin profile.

He was previously at the UK bank since 2006, most recently as a private banker, team leader and vice president based in Singapore. He left Barclays in December 2011. Before Barclays he worked at Gerrard Investment Management, which was acquired by the UK bank for £210m in October 2003 from South Africa's Old Mutual.

VP Bank is believed to be expanding its Asia business after hiringIan Pollock as chief executive from Switzerland’s Julius Baer last November. He spent two years in the role.