Zurich-based Vontobel is hiring Annabelle Bryde as its head of the U.S, U.K., and Scandinavia, effective in July, the bank said in a statement on Thursday. Bryde is currently chief of staff to Joe Stadler, UBS' ultra-high net worth head who emerged as the big winner of a unit merger last year.

Bryde, who is German and British, is a 23-year veteran of UBS, where she ran wealth management international in the U.S. from 2006 to 2008. At Vontobel, she will join the private bank's top management, which is led by Georg Schubiger.

U.S. Bulk-Up

Vontobel added heft to its U.S. business after snapping up $1.2 billion in assets of U.S. clients from Genevan rival Lombard Odier last year. The bank's U.S. arm, which is overseen by the Securities and Exchange Commission, will continue to be managed by Swiss banker Patrice Humbel.

The news of Bryde's hire comes one day after Vontobel suffered the exodus of the four partners of La Roche directly after bonuses were paid. Vontobel had acquired the Basel-based private bank last year as part of its acquisition of Notenstein.