Barclays Bank wants to develop private-banking activities in Israel from its Zurich offices and has poached a whole team of relationship managers from Credit Suisse.
Gérald Mathieu, the chief executive officer of Barclays Bank Switzerland said he had been looking for the best talents to man his new Israel desk in Zurich, according to a statement released on Tuesday.
Mathieu found his new charges at Credit Suisse. Amit Ben Sira (pictured below), Ehud Goren, Shahar Orbach and Mor Chasson have all signed up to work for the British bank.
The departures come as a setback for Credit Suisse. Amit Ben Sira had been in charge of its Israel desk and the Central European desk at the wealth management division for the past five years. Orbach and Goren had been working closely with Ben Sira and they had been supported by Chasson in asset advisory.
Two Colleagues Joining From HSBC
The four ex-Credit Suisse bankers are joined by Jonas Lindblom and Daniel Webb, who join Barclays from HSBC. Lindblom had been in charge of the multi-family office desk at HSBC in Zurich and will continue to cover that segment for his new employer as a senior private banker. His colleague Webb, who holds the same title, will focus on British resident non-domiciled as well as domestic Swiss clients.
The expansion of its presence in Zurich enjoys high-priority treatment at Barclays. The bank relies on synergies with the investment and corporate banking for the wealth management expansion bid.
Barclays started operating in Zurich in 2012. It has 215 employees in Switzerland who mostla are based in Geneva.
