Swiss bank UBS will reorganize its research, analysis, and communications and relaunch the activities under a new banner in the new year, according to a memo seen by finews.asia.
UBS will launch the Group Research, Analytics & Communications (GRAC) unit in 2020, according to a memo obtained by finews.asia. The new unit combines communications and branding, with research, evidence lab, and data analytics.
GRAC will be work throughout the bank, support the divisions in their daily operations and establish examples of best practice.
Veteran From Morgan Stanley
Juan Luis Perez was appointed head of the new unit and report directly to CEO Sergio Ermotti. Perez has been with Switzerland’s largest bank since 2013 after 15 years at Morgan Stanley. He will join the meetings of the executive board as a «guest», the memo said.
The latest announcement follows days after changes at the global wealth management division, the business that caters to the richest clients.
Additional Duties
The reorganization at UBS affects other managers at the bank as well, with Mark Hengel taking responsibility for corporate communications ad interim in addition to being in charge of external communications. The change also comes into force on January 1, 2020, and Hengel will report to Perez.
Chief Marketing Officer J. Johan Jervøe will continue in his role as head of internal communication and branding. The latter will retain the lead over brand strategy, sponsoring, marketing and the art collection of UBS.
Innovations and Research
Kristina Lunoe, C&B chief of staff and operating manager, will be chief of staff of GRAC and report to Perez. Barry Hurewitz and Daniel Dowd are in charge of the evidence lab innovations and research respectively and also report to Perez.
Liv Brahin, head of group marketing and communication services, will report to Hurewitz. The evidence lab will build on the infrastructure of digital campaigns of GMCS and further their development.
