UBS’ wealth management arm has expanded its alternatives capabilities with several new hires in Singapore, finews.asia has learned, as part of broader efforts to capture growing demand.
UBS Global Wealth Management recently hired Thomas Roland-Guyot, William Shin and Nikki Yeung to join its alternative advisory and sales unit in Singapore, according to an internal memo seen by finews.asia.
Roland-Guyot, who joined in late May, has 14 years of industry experience, was most recently with Indosuez Wealth Management where he was its head of private markets and alternatives. Shin, who will join in early July, has 12 years of alternatives experience, currently with Bank of Singapore where he is responsible for building out and marketing the same asset class. Yeung joined from Deutsche Bank in Hong Kong in mid-June where she was an investment funds specialist for more than three years.
Roland-Guyot and Shi will primarily cover global family and institutional wealth (GFIW) clients with a focus on private markets and hedge funds, respectively. All three new hires will report to Southeast Asia head of investment funds and alternatives Marie Chew.
A spokesperson for the bank confirmed the contents of the memo.
Alt Demand
With weakening sentiments and rising volatility in public markets, investors are increasingly turning to alternatives for diversification. This is especially the case amongst ultra-high net worth individuals with a recent UBS report noting that family offices in the APAC region allocate an average of 39 percent to the asset class.
To respond to the demand, UBS has continued to invest to bolster its alternative capabilities including the hire of private equity experts Michelle Shi in April and Monica Liu in February.
