Kleinwort Benson appoints new Head of Private Wealth Management from HSBC

29 October 2007

Kleinwort Benson, one of the UK’s longest established and most innovative providers of total wealth management solutions to corporate and private clients, has appointed former HSBC Commercial Insurance and Investment chief Mark Hussein as Head of Private Wealth Management.

In his new role, Mark will be responsible for the further expansion and strategic development of the bank’s rapidly growing Private Wealth Management business across the UK and Channel Islands. With a strong financial services background, Mark’s undoubted insight and understanding of the client experience, and the varying needs of each unique client group, will be vital in delivering truly bespoke and holistic private wealth management solutions to our diverse and highly individual client base.

He will also further build on our regional development programme which has included the opening of a Manchester and Birmingham office in the last year, covering the North West and Midlands regions, and will involve the opening of two further regional centres by the end of 2007. This expansion, coupled with Mark’s expertise in client relationship management, will allow Kleinwort Benson to forge even closer links with clients and other key client advisers in the regions.

Mark joins Kleinwort Benson from HSBC where he was Head of Commercial Insurance and Investment. During his 13 years with the HSBC Group, Mark gained a reputation for innovation in staff motivation and business development, qualities which chime well with Kleinwort’s own brand values of passion, agility, enterprise, expertise and integrity.

Robert Taylor, CEO of Kleinwort Benson, said: "Mark has an excellent all-round knowledge of financial services and we welcome the broad experience he will bring to Kleinwort Benson and private banking. Wealth management is growing at an unprecedented rate and there is a need to look outside the traditional private banking arena to find the right skills to build on the momentum we have already generated. We are confident Mark is the right person to take our business to the next level, while continuing to offer the bespoke wealth management solutions our clients expect."

Mark said: "I am delighted to be joining Kleinwort Benson and look forward to developing further the already high calibre of talent in the business to take full advantage of the opportunities the market presents for the most capable players."

Kleinwort Benson’s Private Wealth Management service offers advice across a broad range of asset classes including cash alternatives, management of global bonds and equities, real estate and tax advantaged investments, including private equity for suitable investors.

"The private wealth management market is going through a renaissance with the emergence of highly financially literate clients who demand intelligent and creative solutions to their complex needs. As the market changes, so does the profile of the wealth manager, who now require a broad range of skills and experience necessary to ensure that Kleinwort Benson remains at the leading edge of market developments. Mark certainly has that range and experience and we’re very excited about his arrival," said Diane King, Head of Human Resources at Kleinwort Benson.

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