Based in Singapore, Phua will have a particular special focus on family offices in the region.

Union Bancaire PrivĂ©e has appointed Robert Phua as head of wealth planning for South Asia. Phua reports to Ranjit Khanna, head of South Asia and Singapore branch chief executive, and to Bertrand Binggeli, group co-head of wealth planning. 

Phua will work with the South Asia team to develop the bank’s wealth planning business.

Based in Singapore, Phua’s focus will be on continuously growing UBP’s wealth planning business in South Asia with a special focus on family offices in the region, the Geneva-based private bank said in a statement yesterday. 

Phua, who has more than 20 years’ experience, joined UBP from Julius Baer, where he provided wealth planning advisory services to the bank’s clients in Asia, including the structuring and setting up of trusts, family offices, fund entities and non-profit entities. Prior to that, he headed the private trust, securities and fiduciary services for DBS Bank and worked as a legal counsel in various corporations. He has an academic legal background including gaining a barrister-at-law degree from Lincoln’s Inn, London, UK and is a qualified and admitted advocate and solicitor in Singapore. He graduated in law from the University of Leeds, UK. Phua holds various STEP diplomas notably in trust and estate planning.

“Wealth planning is at the heart of UBP’s client offering and we are glad to have Robert on board to further strengthen the bank’s capacity in providing clients with bespoke and innovative wealth management solutions,” Khanna said.