Zurich-based private bank Vontobel has hired Naohiko Tabei, formerly of Pinebridge Investments, to help it gain clients in Japan.
Tabei will serve as an executive director for institutional clients and consultant relations at the company, which is seeking to increase its Asian business. He is tasked with wooing banks and insurance companies as well as pension funds.
Vontobel opened an office in Hong Kong in 2009 and says it manages assets from Asia-Pacific clients amounting to $10 billion.
Jürg Fritschi, deputy head at Vontobel Asia Pacific, said there was strong demand from Japanese financial institutions to diversify their portfolios away from government bonds. He also noted a trend among Japanese pension funds to follow investment strategies focused on environmental, social and governance factors.
“In both areas, Vontobel offers outstanding expertise and with this appointment, we are able to bring these capabilities to the demanding Japanese market,” he said.
©2016 funds global asia