Pictet Wealth Management has hired Jeff See as its operating chief in North Asia, a person familiar told finews.com. A Pictet spokesman confirmed the hire. See was most recently a senior adviser at Synpulse, but better-known as the operating chief at Coutts' Asian private bank when its assets were acquired by Union Bancaire Privée in 2015.

The veteran wealth manager joins the 214-year-old partner-led private bank in a growth spurt in Asia and Europe since Boris Collardi joined last year. The Genevan wealth manager wants to double its private bankers in the region, Collardi, the ex-CEO of Julius Baer, said this week.  

See spent more than four years with UBP and, before the Swiss private bank's Coutts deal, as its Asia operating chief. Previously, See worked in operating roles at UBS in Asia, including for the Swiss giant's ultra-high net worth family office business. He is the second high-profile banker to head for Pictet, following the defection of Pamela Phua from Julius  Baer in May.