Geneva-based private bank UBP has hired an expert in alternative investments from asset manager GAM. He will help overlook the business from the bank’s office in London.

Kier Boley was appointed chief investment officer for alternative investments at Union Bancaire Privée (UBP). He is taking charge of a six-strong investment team based in London and Geneva that develops solutions in the alternative investment segment, UBP said in a statement on Thursday.

Boley will be based in London and lead the alternative investment division together with John Argi, who is working from the headquarters of the bank in Geneva.

Key Business for UBP

Boley joins the bank from asset manager GAM, where he was active in the alternative investment business for two decades and managed discretionary mandates for institutions and family offices. He assumed new tasks this year after Larry Hatheway, the veteran chief economist of GAM, had left the company (finews.com reported).

Alternative investments have a long tradition at UBP and the division is overlooking 10 billion Swiss francs ($10.3 billion) in assets under management. They are a key factor in the growth strategy of the company, it wrote in today’s statement.