Julius Baer installed a Japan desk in Singapore, hiring a former Credit Suisse banker as head of the team. The move came as the Japan business accelerated at the Zurich-based private bank in recent years.
Julius Baer hired Takuma Mizuguchi as head of the team in the city state, the bank said in a statement on Monday. The Singapore desk is the fourth consulting hub for Japanese clients after Zurich, Geneva and Hong Kong.
The head of the Japan desk in Singapore will report to Wolfgang Humberg-Droz, market head Japan at Julius Baer. Mizuguchi will be in charge of dealing with the most demanding clients of Julius Baer. Further bankers will join the new team later this year.
Significant Growth
«Our Japan business has experienced significant growth in recent years and continues to offer promising business opportunities,» said Humbert-Droz in the statement. «We therefore focus on adding talent to keep this positive momentum and expand our client coverage.»
Mizuguchi joins the private bank from Credit Suisse, for which he worked in a similar capacity for three years. Previously, he was manager at Nomura and Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi.
New Hire at TFM
TFM Asset Management, a Japan specialist with branches in Zurich and Tokyo, hired Stefan Hofer as head of business development in Tokyo. Julius Baer owns 60 percent of TFM.
Hofer worked for Julius Baer as emerging market specialist from 2007 to 2014. He recently was chief investment adviser for Asia at BNP Paribas Wealth Management.
