HSBC Appoints Switzerland and EMEA Private Banking Head

A former executive vice-chairman of global wealth management of UBS Switzerland joins HSBC as head of Switzerland and EMEA private banking.

Gabriel Castello is joining HSBC in Zurich and Geneva in July and taking on a wide range of responsibilities at the bank, according to a statement.

Subject to regulatory approval, Castello becomes the regional head of private banking for EMEA, CEO of the Swiss private bank, and country head for Switzerland starting in July. Switzerland is HSBC's largest private banking operation in Europe.

Former UBS Role

Castello brings more than 30 years of experience in private banking and wealth management and was previously at Quintet bank as a partner and member of the group executive committee. Before that, he was at UBS for 13 years in various roles, including CEO of France, head of wealth management in Latin America, and executive vice-chairman of global wealth management, UBS Switzerland. He also spent 17 years at CaixaBank in Spain and France.

He takes over from Alex Classen who is leaving HSBC after nearly four years at the firm.