HSBC Private Bank has announced a series of senior appointments across Asia, reinforcing its wealth planning franchise.

In Southeast Asia, the firm has expanded its Global India coverage team, reflecting the segment’s growing importance and its strategic priority for the business. 

From left: Phaneendar Bhavaraju, Rangan Krishnan, Alex Liu, Dawn Fung and William Fok.

Phaneendar Bhavaraju and Rangan Krishnan have joined the Global India team in Singapore as senior relationship managers. Both report to Manoj Ramarao, senior desk head, Global India, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Bhavaraju brings over 28 years of experience across FX, rates, derivatives, precious metals, private banking, and structured finance. Over the past nine years, he served as chief investment officer at external asset managers based in the Dubai International Finance Centre ( DIFC ), including Jupiter Wealth Advisors and Arrow Capital, and led multi-family office investment activities for O3 Capital India. Prior to that, he spent nine years in private banking roles at RBS and Credit Suisse, managing ultra-high-net-worth-individual ( UHNWI ), family-office, and institutional relationships across India, the Middle East, and the United Kingdom.

Krishnan has over 31 years of experience in the wealth management industry, spanning advisory, communications, and portfolio management. Most recently, he spent nine years at Bank of Singapore in Singapore as a team head, managing UHNW clients, family offices, and institutional portfolios. His previous experience includes leadership roles at ANZ Bank in Singapore, Credit Suisse Private Bank in Hong Kong, ABN Amro Bank and DSP BlackRock Mutual Fund in India.

The appointments seek to bolster HSBC Private Bank’s ability to serve globally mobile Indian clients with cross-border wealth needs across Southeast Asia and key international corridors.

Offshore China coverage

Alex Liu has been appointed market head of Offshore China, extending his coverage to the Offshore China teams in Singapore in addition to his coverage in Hong Kong, to support the offshore needs of Chinese clients across the firm’s global network and enhance connectivity within the region. Based in Hong Kong, Liu will continue to report to Kanas Chan, head of North Asia and Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, Dawn Fung has been appointed head of wealth planning, Southeast Asia, effective immediately. She has been serving in the role on an interim basis and has been a key contributor in maintaining a strong wealth planning team in Singapore, supporting clients and prospects across Southeast Asian markets. Fung will continue to lead the region’s wealth planning agenda, expanding HSBC’s coverage of wealth planning and advisory topics for HNW and UHNW clients and families, including multi-generational wealth and legacy planning.

Fung brings over 25 years of experience across the banking and trust industries, including more than 22 years with HSBC.

She reports functionally to Ann Ling, regional head of wealth planning and advisory, Asia-Pacific, and on an entity basis to Tommy Leung, head of private bank, South Asia. Fung remains a member of the Private Bank Southeast Asia leadership team.  

Onshore Thailand business 

William Fok has been appointed to lead HSBC Private Bank’s onshore Thailand private banking business, based in Bangkok. He reports to Benjamin Wang, desk head for Thailand and Vietnam.  

Fok brings over 20 years of experience in structured products and investment advisory, and most recently served as senior investment counsellor at LGT, where he focused on client acquisition and portfolio optimisation.

This appointment marks a return to HSBC for Fok, who previously spent close to five years with HSBC Private Bank across Hong Kong and Bangkok. His earlier career includes roles at Julius Baer and Morgan Stanley.