The Swiss bank is hiring a former top Morgan Stanley banker for a key finance position, finews.asia has learned.

Zurich-based UBS is appointing Chris Castello as group controller as well as accounting officer, effective January 1, according to a memorandum seen by finews.asia from finance chief Kirt Gardner. The U.S.-born banker replaces Todd Tuckner, who had kept those roles following his advancement to a key wealth management job earlier this year.

«Chris is a highly respected senior leader with a broad technical background and a proven ability to partner with key regulators globally,» Gardner wrote in the memo, dated December 3. «These attributes, his extensive background in product control and valuation, and considerable experience overseeing the spectrum of finance functions make him a great addition to our team.»

Wider Management Changes

Castello was finance chief of Morgan Stanley’s activities in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa until February. He spent 20 years at Goldman Sachs before that, most recently as a managing director and controller in Asia. Castello, who is currently based in New York, is expected to relocate to Zurich sometime next year.

A spokesman for UBS confirmed Castello's hire. His appointment comes eight weeks after ex-ING boss Ralph Hamers took over as CEO of UBS and two weeks after the Swiss wealth manager named Sabine Keller-Busse as head of its domestic activities.