UBS installed a new chief operating officer at its Wealth Management division in Asia. The banker will be based in Singapore and travel frequently to Hong Kong.

Winfried Gutmannsbauer will take on the role of COO at the Wealth Management division in the Asia Pacific region, according to an internal memo seen by finews.asia. The appointment, first reported by the «Asian Private Banker» (behind paywall), becomes effective January 1, 2018.

Gutmannsbauer will report to Zurich-based Dirk Klee and Hong Kong-based Kathryn Shih, with an additional reporting line to Edmund Koh, head of UBS Wealth Management APAC.

The new COO succeeds Geoffroy de Ridder and Andreas Neuber, whose new positions will be announced in due course. Gutmannsbauer will relocate to Singapore from Zurich and will spend a significant amount of time in Hong Kong, according to the memo.