The Tokyo-headquartered banking group has created a new senior role within its Asia ex-Japan wealth management business.

Nomura has appointed Coutts' Johnny Heng as chief investment officer, wealth management for Asia excluding Japan.

Heng joins from Coutts where he was managing director and head of investment services, Asia. He was previously head of investment consulting at Credit Suisse’s private bank and a member of the management investment committee at the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC), serving as global head of equities trading and head of quantitative equities.

In the newly-created role, he will lead the investment advisory and portfolio management teams within Nomura's wealth management arm, working alongside the product team to enhance the group's global investment platform across asset classes. Based in Singapore, he will report to Nobuhiro Sano, Nomura's head of wealth management, Asia ex-Japan.

His appointment follows that of Harry Ng from Julius Baer as head of Nomura Trust Company and head of wealth planning strategy and solutions for Asia excluding Japan.

“Johnny brings with him 20 years of experience in investments covering all asset classes,” said Amanda Chen, the group's deputy head of wealth management, Asia ex-Japan. “His global outlook on investing and regional experience in managing advisory teams makes him very well-placed to lead Nomura Wealth Management’s investment team.”