Philippines Wealth Management – Evolution of the Market & Key Trends Ahead

Robin Heng was appointed Bank of Singapore’s Global Market Head for Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Indochina on 1 January 2018. He joined Bank of Singapore in March 2010 as a Managing Director, overseeing a team of private bankers that serve Indonesian ultra-high net worth individuals and high net worth individuals. He rose through the ranks and assumed the position as Global Market Head for Indonesia and Philippines and was appointed to Bank of Singapore’s management committee in February 2015. In 2016, Robin played a pivotal role in the swift and seamless integration of the newly acquired Barclays’ wealth and investment business in Singapore and Hong Kong with Bank of Singapore. He concurrently served as a strategic consultant, advising Bank of Singapore’s fellow OCBC Group member, OCBC NISP, on the set-up of their onshore private banking unit that was launched in May 2017. Bank of Singapore has received numerous accolades from leading publications for the markets under Robin’s watch; Best International Private Bank in Philippines for three years (2014 – 2016; Asian Private Banker), Best Private Bank in Philippines for Ultra High Net Worth Clients (Euromoney Private Banking and Wealth Management Survey 2017) and Best Private Bank in Indonesia (2017; PWM/ The Banker).  Prior to joining Bank of Singapore, Robin served as the Managing Director and Head of UBS AG Hong Kong’s South Asia desk, responsible for Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Financial Intermediary Markets. A veteran banker of more than 20 years, Robin is currently an active member of the industry-endorsed Client Advisory Competency Standards (CACS) Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Advisory Group where he plays an important role upholding the requisite high level of competency in the wealth management industry in Singapore. He was conferred the IBF Fellow award in 2016 by the Institute of Banking and Finance Singapore (IBF). The IBF Fellow title recognises industry veterans who exemplify thought leadership and commitment to industry development. Robin graduated with a degree in Economics and Mathematics from the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.

Raghavendra Ramesh, is currently part of Moxtra's Solutions team. Moxtra powers one stop apps for the mobile era. Raghavendra, has been with Moxtra for five and a half years now. As a part of the journey at Moxtra, Raghavendra has worked closely with some of Moxtra's marquee enterprise accounts such as Citibank, OCBC Bank, Bank of Singapore, Standard Chartered Bank (Retail & Private) in the Asia Pacific region. Raghavendra, works with bank teams to understand their current challenges with respect to client engagement, their key business objectives, and helps them leverage Moxtra's capabilities to address these challenges.

Dr. Ramos has more than 25 years of banking and finance experience working for local and foreign institutions. He is a CFA Charterholder, a CAIA Charterholder, a CIPM Certificant, Certified Securities Representative, a Registered Financial consultant and a certified Treasury Professional. Dr. Ramos has received several local and international awards for his service to the industry and has also served on the boards of several industry associations. He has served as President of the Trust officers Association of the Philippines and the De La Salle University Doctoral Society. He is also the current President of the CFA Society of the Philippines.

Mr. Bautista, is currently the Head of Agency, Bank & Alternative Distribution Channel for SLAMCI Sales. He joined the company in 2008 and has been instrumental for the growth and expansion of the bank, brokerage and online channel business for Sun Life Asset Management. He recently took on the role as Head of the Agency channel in 2019; wherein he institutionalized sales growth strategies, risk policies and distribution channel management practices. Mr. Bautista has been in the mutual fund industry for two decades now. Prior to joining the financial sector, he had a short stint with the government under the Foreign Service Institute, Dept. of Foreign Affairs as a research assistant. Thereafter, he joined the asset management industry as a Business Development Officer and subsequently handled Institutional Sales for Philam Asset Management, Inc. After his post-graduate program, he moved to the banking industry with Standard Chartered Bank handling Trust Marketing functions and was promoted as Product Manager handling various financial instruments, including - mutual funds, structured notes, time deposits and bancassurance products. In 2008, Sun Life Asset Management hired him to further develop and expand its distribution channels. He is a graduate of De La Salle University, Manila with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. He took his higher education at Oxford Brookes University Business School in Oxford, United Kingdom where he obtained a Master’s degree in Business Administration focusing on Global Marketing Strategy (with Merit). He is a Certified Investment Solicitor (CIS) with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Kevin is an ardent believer in change and an accomplished driver of strategic business growth in Asia. He has worked within the region since 2008, and has held a raft of senior positions in the wealth and financial services industry for over 25 years. Before joining additiv in July 2020, Kevin worked for many years in fund management, starting his career at Legal & General and then at State Street Global Advisors before joining Northern Trust where he headed up Asia Pacific for Northern Trust Global Investments. More recently, Kevin was Managing Director, Head of South East Asia and Head of ETF and Index Investments within Asia Pacific for BlackRock. Kevin Hardy’s appointment earlier this year underlines the importance of the Asian market to additiv. Asia is additiv’s second-largest market after Europe and it is investing strongly to take advantage of the growth opportunities in the region.

Robin Heng was appointed Bank of Singapore’s Global Market Head for Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Indochina on 1 January 2018. He joined Bank of Singapore in March 2010 as a Managing Director, overseeing a team of private bankers that serve Indonesian ultra-high net worth individuals and high net worth individuals. He rose through the ranks and assumed the position as Global Market Head for Indonesia and Philippines and was appointed to Bank of Singapore’s management committee in February 2015. In 2016, Robin played a pivotal role in the swift and seamless integration of the newly acquired Barclays’ wealth and investment business in Singapore and Hong Kong with Bank of Singapore. He concurrently served as a strategic consultant, advising Bank of Singapore’s fellow OCBC Group member, OCBC NISP, on the set-up of their onshore private banking unit that was launched in May 2017. Bank of Singapore has received numerous accolades from leading publications for the markets under Robin’s watch; Best International Private Bank in Philippines for three years (2014 – 2016; Asian Private Banker), Best Private Bank in Philippines for Ultra High Net Worth Clients (Euromoney Private Banking and Wealth Management Survey 2017) and Best Private Bank in Indonesia (2017; PWM/ The Banker).  Prior to joining Bank of Singapore, Robin served as the Managing Director and Head of UBS AG Hong Kong’s South Asia desk, responsible for Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Financial Intermediary Markets. A veteran banker of more than 20 years, Robin is currently an active member of the industry-endorsed Client Advisory Competency Standards (CACS) Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Advisory Group where he plays an important role upholding the requisite high level of competency in the wealth management industry in Singapore. He was conferred the IBF Fellow award in 2016 by the Institute of Banking and Finance Singapore (IBF). The IBF Fellow title recognises industry veterans who exemplify thought leadership and commitment to industry development. Robin graduated with a degree in Economics and Mathematics from the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.

Dr. Ramos has more than 25 years of banking and finance experience working for local and foreign institutions. He is a CFA Charterholder, a CAIA Charterholder, a CIPM Certificant, Certified Securities Representative, a Registered Financial consultant and a certified Treasury Professional. Dr. Ramos has received several local and international awards for his service to the industry and has also served on the boards of several industry associations. He has served as President of the Trust officers Association of the Philippines and the De La Salle University Doctoral Society. He is also the current President of the CFA Society of the Philippines.

Mr. Bautista, is currently the Head of Agency, Bank & Alternative Distribution Channel for SLAMCI Sales. He joined the company in 2008 and has been instrumental for the growth and expansion of the bank, brokerage and online channel business for Sun Life Asset Management. He recently took on the role as Head of the Agency channel in 2019; wherein he institutionalized sales growth strategies, risk policies and distribution channel management practices. Mr. Bautista has been in the mutual fund industry for two decades now. Prior to joining the financial sector, he had a short stint with the government under the Foreign Service Institute, Dept. of Foreign Affairs as a research assistant. Thereafter, he joined the asset management industry as a Business Development Officer and subsequently handled Institutional Sales for Philam Asset Management, Inc. After his post-graduate program, he moved to the banking industry with Standard Chartered Bank handling Trust Marketing functions and was promoted as Product Manager handling various financial instruments, including - mutual funds, structured notes, time deposits and bancassurance products. In 2008, Sun Life Asset Management hired him to further develop and expand its distribution channels. He is a graduate of De La Salle University, Manila with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. He took his higher education at Oxford Brookes University Business School in Oxford, United Kingdom where he obtained a Master’s degree in Business Administration focusing on Global Marketing Strategy (with Merit). He is a Certified Investment Solicitor (CIS) with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Raghavendra Ramesh, is currently part of Moxtra's Solutions team. Moxtra powers one stop apps for the mobile era. Raghavendra, has been with Moxtra for five and a half years now. As a part of the journey at Moxtra, Raghavendra has worked closely with some of Moxtra's marquee enterprise accounts such as Citibank, OCBC Bank, Bank of Singapore, Standard Chartered Bank (Retail & Private) in the Asia Pacific region. Raghavendra, works with bank teams to understand their current challenges with respect to client engagement, their key business objectives, and helps them leverage Moxtra's capabilities to address these challenges.

Michael is a prominent figure in the financial services industry in Asia. He is the founder and CEO of Hubbis, a renowned provider of intelligence and connectivity for the Asian wealth management industry. With a depth of experience and expertise, he has played a pivotal role in shaping the industry for over 30 years, becoming a leading industry presence in the events, professional development, and publishing space in the region. Hubbis is a multi-generational family-owned and managed business.

He has been actively involved in the Asia-Pacific region since 1993. And has lived in Asia since 1995, holding positions in Hong Kong, Sydney, and Singapore. 

For over 14-years, Hubbis has established itself as the gold standard media and events brand in wealth management thought leadership in Asia. Each year providing a very large body of cutting-edge editorial and sponsored content, organizing top-flight events.

During that time Hubbis has become the platform of choice for many high-profile C-suite leaders to communicate their vision of the Asian wealth management.

Before his involvement with Hubbis, Michael founded Pacific Prospect in 2002, a financial services media company. Under his leadership, the company achieved significant success and was subsequently acquired by global business-to-business publisher Incisive Media in 2006. Michael continued to serve as the CEO of Pacific Prospect until October 2008.

Prior to his entrepreneurial ventures, Michael garnered 5 years of experience in financial markets publishing. His career in this field began in 1993 when he joined Euromoney Publications as the publisher of the quarterly magazine, International Bond Investor. In 1995, Michael joined Thomson Financial Services (now owned by LSEG) and spearheaded the conception and launch of Finance Asia magazine. During his tenure as Managing Director of Finance Asia, he also initiated the Asian Debt Review, Asian Private Capital Magazine, and the Finance Asia Conference Business. In 1997, he founded FIA Limited, further expanding his contributions to the financial publishing industry.

Born in North Wales, Michael served as the head boy of St David's College Llandudno. He holds a degree in Business Administration from Cardiff University. Beyond his professional endeavours, Michael is a family-oriented individual and is happily married with three children: Reanna, Garett, and Tarryn.