UBS escalates its pursuit of rich Americans with staff promotions

UBS escalates its pursuit of rich Americans with staff promotions
Bank names 96 managing directors in Americas, including 60 financial advisers, as it targets more billionaire clients.
MAR 06, 2019
By  Bloomberg

UBS Group promoted 96 employees to the level of managing director in the Americas as it seeks to gain more rich clients and expand in the region. The Swiss bank elevated 60 financial advisers and 36 Americas staff, according to Tom Naratil, co-president of UBS Global Wealth Management and president of UBS in the Americas, who posted lists of the promoted employees on LinkedIn. UBS plans to expand by targeting billionaires, managing the complex fortunes of large families and boosting lending. The bank is the world's biggest wealth manager, with $2.26 trillion of assets under management, but its American wealth operations are smaller than rivals Bank of America Corp. and Morgan Stanley. The division has an "extremely ambitious" plan to boost pretax profits by 10% to 15% over the next three years, Mr. Naratil said in a December interview. "We continue to strategically invest in the Americas as a key area of growth" Mr. Naratil said in a statement. "Our advisers are the most productive in the industry and these promotions are in recognition of their accomplishments." In October, UBS Group CEO Sergio Ermotti took a bolder set of financial targets back to investors, pledging to drive wealth management profit higher and place the U.S at the center of a growth strategy that also includes boosting lending to high- and ultra-high-net-worth clients. (More: UBS Wealth embraces exotic strategies to battle market headwinds)

Latest News

Indie $8B RIA adds further leadership talent amid growth drive
Indie $8B RIA adds further leadership talent amid growth drive

Executives from LPL Financial, Cresset Partners hired for key roles.

Stock volatility remained low despite risk events
Stock volatility remained low despite risk events

Geopolitical tension has been managed well by the markets.

Fed minutes to provide signals on rate cuts
Fed minutes to provide signals on rate cuts

December cut is still a possiblity.

Trump's tariff talk roils markets, political leaders
Trump's tariff talk roils markets, political leaders

Canada, China among nations to react to president-elect's comments.

Ken Leech formally charged by SEC, US Attorney's Office
Ken Leech formally charged by SEC, US Attorney's Office

For several years, Leech allegedly favored some clients in trade allocations, at the cost of others, amounting to $600 million, according to the Department of Justice.

SPONSORED The future of prospecting: Say goodbye to cold calls and hello to smart connections

Streamline your outreach with Aidentified's AI-driven solutions

SPONSORED A bumpy start to autumn but more positives ahead

This season’s market volatility: Positioning for rate relief, income growth and the AI rebound