A partnership with a Genevan private bank is usually a job for life. Following the recent exit of a new partner at Mirabaud, yet another in the prestigious ranks is thinking about their future.

The exit was seismic: Michael Palma elected to leave private bank Mirabaud, where he joined the ranks of partners just last year. Mirabaud is one of three family-controlled Genevan institutes – alongside Pictet and Lombard Odier – which are the city's best known private banks.

Palma represented the up-and-coming seventh generation at Mirabaud; 43-year-old Camille Vial was the first of the generation to advance to partner in 2012. She has since expanded her remit – and is one of the few women in the top ranks of Swiss wealth management.

«Am I Good Enough?»

Vial, who has a PhD in math, doesn't see her future set in stone, she told «Neue Zuercher Zeitung» (behind paywall, in German): she isn't sure if she wants to stay in the job for the next 20 years, she told the Swiss daily.

Instead, she aims to ask herself «Am I good enough for Mirabaud?» from time to time. If she can't unequivocally answer with «yes,» she would give up her responsibility, she noted. While the gift of self-reflection is an important one for CEOs, Vial's remarks note that the «banquier privé» job is no longer one for life.

Following the shock exit of Palma, Vial is one of four partners at the 34 billion Swiss franc ($34.6 billion) wealth manager, alongside Lionel Aeschlimann, and senior managing partner Yves Mirabaud, and Nicolas Mirabaud.