B2C2 family office expansion across Asia-Pacific is being strengthened through the appointment of former Schroders Wealth Management Asia chairman Jason Lai as senior adviser in Singapore. Lai founded wealth manager Thirdrock Group in 2009 and became chief executive of Schroders’ Asian wealth business after the FTSE 100 company acquired Thirdrock in 2019. He subsequently served as chairman before retiring in 2026. B2C2 said Lai will help deepen relationships with family offic

Hong Kong finance talent is returning as stronger capital markets, recovering initial public offerings and increased investment activity revive hiring across financial services. Robert Walters Hong Kong Managing Director John Mullally said interest from overseas candidates has improved significantly from pandemic-era levels, with recruitment rising moderately during the past six to 12 months. Hong Kong's stronger equity market and IPO recovery have supported demand for profes

China market regulator chief Luo Wen has formally left the State Administration for Market Regulation following his appointment as Communist Party chief of Hebei province. China's human resources ministry confirmed Luo's removal from the regulatory position after the 61-year-old was named Hebei's top official on July 31, replacing Ni Yuefeng. Hebei surrounds Beijing and forms an important part of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei economic region, making its provincial leadership an i

AI skills in finance are becoming more valuable than traditional business qualifications, with 86% of US finance executives saying AI training is more useful than an MBA for many new employees, according to PwC. The survey of more than 1,000 executives found that 91% of companies were increasing compensation for workers with artificial intelligence capabilities. Employers are particularly seeking professionals able to build, deploy and manage AI agents across financial operat

Paragon family office coverage is expanding following the appointment of Thitaree “Pat” Natthikawong as vice-president and partner at Singapore-based wealth management boutique Paragon Capital Management. Natthikawong brings experience in fund distribution, capital raising and merchant banking across Southeast Asia, supported by relationships in Singapore, Hong Kong and other regional financial centres. Paragon said her network and Thailand-focused expertise would strengthen

Societe Generale Asia has appointed former UOB executive Joseph Chia as head of supply chain management for Asia Pacific as the bank expands its transaction banking franchise. Based in Singapore, Chia will oversee accounts receivable and payable solutions across the region, reporting jointly to Asia Pacific transaction banking head Soo Tat Kua and Societe Generale Factoring Chief Executive Aurélien Viry. He joins from UOB, where he served as senior vice-president for financia

HSBC Singapore hiring will add more than 200 employees across artificial intelligence and wealth management as the lender expands two businesses central to its Asian growth strategy. HSBC plans to recruit more than 100 AI specialists and a further 100 wealth managers. A new Singapore AI centre is expected to open during the second half of 2026, with roles spanning natural language processing, data science, AI governance and human-centred design. The centre will focus on perso

RBC Wealth Management Asia has appointed six senior private bankers across Hong Kong and Singapore as competition intensifies for experienced relationship managers serving wealthy Asian clients. In Hong Kong, the firm appointed Ivy Ma as executive director, Jackson Huang as director and Malcolm Chai as associate director. Ma joins from Standard Chartered, while Huang previously worked at Bank J. Safra Sarasin, DBS, Julius Baer and Goldman Sachs. Chai arrives from UBS. In Sing

The Asia private equity industry is confronting an acute shortage of experienced portfolio company executives, creating new challenges as fundraising accelerates and investors place greater emphasis on operational value creation. Preqin data showed that the ten largest Asia-focused private equity funds closed during the first half of 2026 raised USD45.5bn, more than double the comparable period a year earlier. However, firms are increasingly finding it difficult to recruit ch

UOB Private Bank Hong Kong has appointed Judy Chan as managing director for Hong Kong as the Singapore-based lender continues expanding its wealth management capabilities across Asia. Effective from July 2026, Chan will oversee client coverage, team leadership and the delivery of wealth solutions for high-net-worth individuals while strengthening client engagement and the bank's presence in Hong Kong. She will report to Chew Mun Yew, head of Group Private Bank. Chan brings ne

Deutsche Bank Southeast Asia has strengthened its private banking leadership by appointing veteran wealth manager Jennifer Tay as vice chairman for Southeast Asia, reinforcing the bank's regional expansion strategy amid rising demand for wealth management services. Tay will join on 3 August and report to Johanes Oeni, head of Southeast Asia for Deutsche Bank's Private Bank. She arrives from Citibank, where she spent more than 20 years, most recently serving as market executiv

Singapore wealth management firms are expanding recruitment beyond private bankers as rapid industry growth fuels demand for technology, investment, compliance and risk professionals. Recruiters said experienced relationship managers serving Greater China and Southeast Asia remain in short supply, prompting banks to broaden overseas hiring while investing in stronger operational capabilities. Russell Reynolds Associates reported that technology-related executive searches supp

Lighthouse Canton wealth management is accelerating its regional expansion after appointing Angela Saik as managing director of wealth management to support the firm's ambition of doubling assets under management to USD10bn by 2027. The appointment strengthens the Singapore-based independent wealth manager's presence across Southeast Asia. Saik brings more than two decades of experience advising wealthy Asian families and previously held senior positions at Royal Bank of Cana

Schroders Wealth Management Asia has appointed former Coutts Chief Executive Peter Flavel as chair and independent non-executive director of Schroder & Co (Asia) Ltd, subject to regulatory approval, as the firm accelerates its expansion across one of its fastest-growing wealth markets. Flavel brings more than 30 years of experience in private banking and wealth management and will work closely with recently appointed Schroders Wealth Management Asia Chief Executive Evonne Tan

GIC leadership is being strengthened through a series of senior investment appointments designed to improve coordination across private markets, portfolio strategy and multi-asset investing as global market conditions become increasingly complex. Singapore's sovereign wealth fund has appointed Choo Yong Cheen and Liew Tzu Mi as deputy group chief investment officers, effective 1 October 2026. Choo will continue serving as chief investment officer for private equity while assu

Atlas Capital family office services have expanded following the appointment of former DBS Bank (Hong Kong) institutional banking head and alternate chief executive Alex Cheung as strategic adviser. The move supports the firm's evolution from a single-family office into an investment-led wealth management platform serving ultra-high-net-worth individuals and family offices across Asia. Hong Kong-based Atlas Capital Asset Management said it has broadened its multi-family offic

State Street has renewed its long-standing mandate to provide asset servicing for South Korea's National Pension Service (NPS), reinforcing its role as a strategic partner to one of the world's largest institutional investors. The renewed State Street NPS agreement supports the pension fund's expanding international investment programme as overseas allocations continue to increase. The mandate covers a comprehensive range of back- and middle-office services, including custody

HP Wealth Management has strengthened its Singapore family office business by appointing veteran private bankers Michael Sutter and Alex Grindley as senior relationship managers. Both executives join the independent wealth manager and multi-family office from UBS Singapore, bringing extensive experience advising affluent individuals and family office clients across Asia. Sutter spent more than 25 years at UBS and said HP Wealth Management's fee-based, bank-agnostic model offe

Hong Kong billionaire Dickson Poon is exploring strategic options for luxury department store Harvey Nichols, including a possible sale or fresh investment, potentially ending more than three decades of ownership. The Harvey Nichols sale review comes as the UK luxury retailer continues to face a challenging trading environment. According to the Financial Times, Poon has appointed FTI Consulting to evaluate strategic alternatives and has begun preliminary discussions with seve

Global financial institutions are increasingly prioritising South Korea for regional expansion while adopting a more cautious approach towards China and India, according to a joint survey by the Asia Securities Industry & Financial Markets Association and KPMG. The South Korea financial sector has become one of the region's fastest-growing destinations for international financial firms. Approximately two-thirds of the 34 institutions surveyed plan to expand across Asia-Pacifi