Bank of Singapore sets up advisory council with global experts

Bank of Singapore today announced the creation of an independent investment advisory council to augment the bank’s Chief Investment Office’s (CIO) research capabilities and develop relevant insights for its clients.

The Bank of Singapore CIO Global Advisory Council comprises experts from leading think tanks and asset managers around the world. The convening of such a diverse group of renowned experts to benefit ultra-high net worth families and high-net-worth individuals is one of the first-of-its-kind by a private bank in Asia.

With increased market uncertainties, it has become even more critical for investors to have a holistic view of the upside and downside risks, as well as structural trends impacting the
geopolitical and economic landscape. Timely and diverse insights will help to provide investors with a crucial advantage in identifying attractive risk-adjusted investment opportunities.

The Bank of Singapore CIO Global Advisory Council is made up of eight members who are chosen based on their sterling track records in their respective fields such as economics, public policy,  geopolitical analysis, asset allocation and investment management. Their insights are widely sought after and publicised in leading global media publications.

The members are:
1. Belinda Boa, head of APAC Active Investments and chief investment officer of emerging markets, BlackRock
2. Ken Caplan, global co-chief investment officer, Blackstone
3. Fabiana Fedeli, chief investment officer, Equities, Multi-Asset and Sustainability, M&G Investments
4. Robin Hu, Asia chair, Milken Institute and advisor senior director, Temasek
5. Stewart James, co-head, Office of Government Affairs APAC, Goldman Sachs
6. Yuichi Murao, chief investment officer, Nomura Asset Management
7. Adam Posen, president, Peterson Institute for International Economics
8. Paula Campbell Roberts, chief investment strategist for global wealth, KKR

Having weathered major financial crises like the global financial crisis in 2008 and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the council members are well-versed in the causes and effects of such
economic turmoil. As such, the council is well-placed to provide astute analyses for investors.

Jean Chia, global chief investment officer, Bank of Singapore, said: “Building intellectual capital is a key part of the bank’s strategy to become the top private bank in Asia. In today’s knowledge-driven economy, we are enhancing our competitive advantage by investing in research capabilities, which includes convening this global advisory council that complements our in-house insights. The council pools together a group with valuable knowledge and deep expertise, strengthening our value proposition of becoming the go-to bank for investment advice and advisory and discretionary portfolio management.”

Quality investment and portfolio advisory as a key differentiator

With quality investment and portfolio advisory at the forefront of Bank of Singapore’s corporate strategy, the formation of the CIO Global Advisory Council is one of the latest in a
concerted series of moves to differentiate the bank in this area.

Since January 2024, the Chief Investment Office has been a standalone unit that reports directly to CEO Jason Moo. The Chief Investment Office sets the asset allocation framework, investment views and securities research, while the advisory and discretionary portfolio management teams manage the clients’ assets in alignment with their return expectations and risk appetite.

While the CIO Global Advisory Council offers complementary insights, the bank’s house view – which guides investment decisions – is built upon the Chief Investment Office’s in-house research, investment strategy and asset allocation expertise.

This year, the Chief Investment Office has also implemented a market leading wealth management and investment management technology platform to enhance the client experience through its client portfolio analysis and portfolio construction capabilities, which is already widely used by asset managers and institutional investors. Bank of Singapore is one of the first private banks in Asia to adopt the platform for private banking clients.

Re-disseminated by  Wealth and Society