Vontobel Hires Top UBP Executive

Zurich-based private bank strengthens its wealth management leadership by recruiting a senior executive from Union Bancaire Privée.

Tristan Buffet, the global head of CIO office at Union Bancaire Privée (UBP), has left the private bank. Buffet, who assumed the role in March 2024, exited his post in Geneva in April.

On 1 May, Buffet joined Vontobel as the new COO for institutional clients, finews.ch can reveal. He works within Vontobel’s asset management arm in Zurich and succeeds Frank Schmidt. Buffet reports directly to Markus Pfister, the COO of Vontobel.

At UBP, Buffet oversaw the bank’s CIO office, which is composed of two divisions: the COO investment management and the investment marketing. According to finews.ch sources, the heads of both teams reported to Buffett. Upon his departure, both heads split most of his responsibilities between themselves. New joiners have also reinforced the teams. Buffet reported directly to Michaël Lok, group CIO and Co-CEO asset management.

In his former capacity, Buffet spent four years as UBP's Co-COO investment management. Earlier in his career, he worked for Alpha Financial Markets Consulting. After joining the firm in 2014 as a consultant in Paris, he was promoted to senior manager in Geneva in 2017. Finally, in 2019, he was named as a manager at the company.

Buffet started his financial career as an analyst at Institut du Patrimoine in Paris in 2013.

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