Private Banking Leaders discuss the Visions of the Future of Wealth Management in Asia

Michael Blake is Chief Executive Wealth Management Asia for Union Bancaire Privée (UBP), a family-owned private bank and specialist asset manager headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. In this capacity, Michael is responsible for the leadership and development of UBP’s wealth management business in Asia. He brings to the role a track record of leading cross-cultural teams during periods of growth and transformational change. Michael joined UBP in 2016 upon its successful acquisition of Coutts International. Prior to this, he was Chief Executive of Coutts International, with responsibility for leading its international wealth management business and overseeing its integration with UBP in Europe and Asia. Michael has lived in Asia for much of the past two decades and is active in various international affairs forums. He read Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford University and studied Mandarin in Beijing.

Atul Singh is the Founder & Chief Executive Officer at Validus Wealth, India. At Validus Wealth, he is building the next generation wealth advisory firm, that holistically addresses financial needs of Indian investors. Atul is a veteran in the wealth management industry. After a long career of running private banking businesses for Merrill Lynch and Julius Baer, in 2017, he decided to capitalise his expertise into incubating a new wealth firm in India, with a vision of turning it into a recognised center of excellence in wealth management space. With client centricity at the core, Atul has been successfully aggregating a team of investment professionals from international & Indian wealth firms, that will change the landscape of how investment will be done in India, across UHNI, HNI and affluent segments. For over two decades, Atul has built and run private banking businesses across several key markets including USA, Asia and India. Prior to Validus Wealth, Atul was the Managing Director and CEO of Julius Baer India, one of the largest private banking business in India. He led the acquisition of this business from Merrill Lynch to Julius Baer, along with 150 employees and $6.5 Bn of AUM. Before this carve-out, at Merrill Lynch, Atul was the MD of private banking business where he built a strong on-shore India platform. He also played a significant role in introducing Indian investors to investment opportunities globally. Before moving to India, Atul was based in Singapore where he held various leadership positions within the Asia Wealth Management business of Merrill Lynch. Prior to joining Merrill Lynch in July 2006, Atul was a principal with Booz Allen Hamilton in New York, where he advised large financial services clients on driving growth and productivity. At Booz Allen, he authored several thought pieces of dynamics of wealth management and wholesale banking businesses. Atul holds an MBA from IIM Bangalore with a Director’s Medal and a degree in Electrical Engineering from the Birla Institute of Technology, Ranchi, with a Presidential Gold Medal.

Alvin has responsibility over Maybank Group’s wealth business across the private banking, mass affluent as well as emerging affluent segments. The wealth business spans 8 countries and tops USD50b in combined AUM. Alvin Lee has 20+ years of banking experience across wealth management, corporate, consumer banking and treasury, with specialisations in product and risk management, as well as business development. Alvin’s vast experience across Asia, Europe, Africa and Middle East means that he is well attuned to local and global opportunities and challenges. Prior to joining Maybank, Alvin worked at Burgan Bank in Kuwait as a consultant to the CEO, managing the bank's Treasury function as well as its proprietary investment portfolio in fixed income, fund and private equity. He also spent 14 years with Citibank and four years with Barclays in London. He began his career at JP Morgan. He has proven track records in establishing new product lines, implementing bank investment strategy across different asset classes and managing specialist teams with ethnic and national diversity.

James Verner is (Title TBC) of the International Private Banking & Wealth division of InvestCloud and is responsible for overall growth strategy and client engagement across APAC markets. Based in Hong Kong, James partners with leading banks, insurers and platforms to digitize their wealth management operations and client experiences.   Prior to joining InvestCloud, James was a Managing Director at Legg Mason/Franklin Templeton leading their Digital Wealth business for EMEA & APAC which included making a series of portfolio investments in innovative wealth and insurance technology vendors. James was also Partner at a leading UK firm of actuaries advising asset managers, financial advisors and pension funds.

James Verner is (Title TBC) of the International Private Banking & Wealth division of InvestCloud and is responsible for overall growth strategy and client engagement across APAC markets. Based in Hong Kong, James partners with leading banks, insurers and platforms to digitize their wealth management operations and client experiences.   Prior to joining InvestCloud, James was a Managing Director at Legg Mason/Franklin Templeton leading their Digital Wealth business for EMEA & APAC which included making a series of portfolio investments in innovative wealth and insurance technology vendors. James was also Partner at a leading UK firm of actuaries advising asset managers, financial advisors and pension funds.

Alvin has responsibility over Maybank Group’s wealth business across the private banking, mass affluent as well as emerging affluent segments. The wealth business spans 8 countries and tops USD50b in combined AUM. Alvin Lee has 20+ years of banking experience across wealth management, corporate, consumer banking and treasury, with specialisations in product and risk management, as well as business development. Alvin’s vast experience across Asia, Europe, Africa and Middle East means that he is well attuned to local and global opportunities and challenges. Prior to joining Maybank, Alvin worked at Burgan Bank in Kuwait as a consultant to the CEO, managing the bank's Treasury function as well as its proprietary investment portfolio in fixed income, fund and private equity. He also spent 14 years with Citibank and four years with Barclays in London. He began his career at JP Morgan. He has proven track records in establishing new product lines, implementing bank investment strategy across different asset classes and managing specialist teams with ethnic and national diversity.

Michael Blake is Chief Executive Wealth Management Asia for Union Bancaire Privée (UBP), a family-owned private bank and specialist asset manager headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. In this capacity, Michael is responsible for the leadership and development of UBP’s wealth management business in Asia. He brings to the role a track record of leading cross-cultural teams during periods of growth and transformational change. Michael joined UBP in 2016 upon its successful acquisition of Coutts International. Prior to this, he was Chief Executive of Coutts International, with responsibility for leading its international wealth management business and overseeing its integration with UBP in Europe and Asia. Michael has lived in Asia for much of the past two decades and is active in various international affairs forums. He read Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford University and studied Mandarin in Beijing.