Jamian Lai

Geneva-based private bank and wealth manager Union Bancaire Privée has appointed Jamian Lai as market head for the Philippines, effective January 13, according to an internal company memo.

Based in Hong Kong, Lai will report to Ricardo Choi, head of the Philippines.

With about 30 years of experience in private banking and private markets, Lai is a seasoned professional in managing ultra-high-net-worth ( UHNW ) investors and driving growth in key markets, including the Philippines, which has always been a focal point of UBP’s expansion plans in Asia, says Teresa Lee, chief executive for Hong Kong and regional head for North Asia.

Lai joins the firm from Headline Asia, a venture capital firm, where he was most recently venture partner and head of investor relations. In this role, he led fund-raising efforts and managed relationships with institutional and UNHW investors, including large family offices and corporations, sovereign funds, pension funds and endowments.

Prior to that, he was market team head for Hong Kong and the Philippines at UBS, where he built a high-performing team and achieved top rankings in key performance indicators.

His career also includes significant tenures at the private banking arm of Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan, and Standard Chartered, as well as Synergy Capital Advisors, a private equity manager.

Lai holds a bachelor of arts in East Asian studies from Harvard University.