J. Safra Sarasin has appointed a former senior executive from BNP Paribas in Asia to its top job in the growth region. The current Asia CEO joins the board of directors and becomes the first female member of this committee.
Swiss-Brazilian private bank J. Safra Sarasin appointed Andy Chai as chief executive officer for Asia, according to a statement released by the bank. Chai replaces Enid Yip (pictured below) in the position as CEO. Yip was appointed to board of directors of the J. Safra Sarasin and will continue to provide strategic advice to the group in her new role.
Yip is one of the notable female executives having made career in Asian private banking, with Kathy Shih the other major name. Yip joined Bank Sarasin in 2007. At the time, she alreday was one of the most respected and prominent private bankers in Asia, having worked as head of the Hong Kong-branch of Credit Suisse.
Experienced New CEO
Chai joins the Swiss-Brazilian bank from BNP Paribas wealth management Asia, where he was co-CEO, a role he left after only two months after his appointment in August 2019. He has 20 years of experience in the industry and also worked as head of the China market region.
The bank also promoted Vinay Gandhi (pictured above) to deputy CEO for Asia. Gandhi, who became Singapore CEO in 2018, will continue to hold that position and lead J. Safra Sarasin’s banking with rich clients in Asia. Gandhi replaces Yelandur Nagendra, who is retiring from the firm.
