166-year old U.K. accounting firm Saffery Champness’ trust unit has announced a new appointment to strengthen its Asia Pacific businesses.
Dr. Yumei Zhang joins Saffery Champness Registered Fiduciaries as a Geneva-based client director, according to a statement.
Zhang will join an APAC-focused team to play a central role in continuing to develop and serve high net worth individuals and families from the region, especially those with Chinese links.
Zhang has 20 year years of experience, joining most recently from wealth manager Vistra where she was its Hong Kong-based Greater China head of private clients. She has also been an active member of the China Subcommittee of STEP (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners) Hong Kong where she was previously an executive committee member and co-chair of its wills and east subcommittee.
Swiss-Based APAC Assets
According to Paul Tucknott, managing director of Saffery Champness (Suisse) S.A., wealth and demand for structuring from Asia has continued to grow with Switzerland benefitting as a «jurisdiction of choice».
«Over recent years, we have seen significant growth from our clients in the APAC region, including mainland China where the population of wealthy individuals has increased dramatically in the past decade and the need for structuring of that wealth is more important than ever,» Tucknott said.
«Switzerland, with its stability, globally renowned financial system and a strong eco-system of trust and wealth planning professionals, remains the jurisdiction of choice for management of wealth and assets, as well as philanthropic or charitable activities.»
