SKN | Is Lombard Odier’s Asia Expansion Signaling a New Wealth Power Shift in 2025?

Lombard Odier is deepening its footprint in Asia in 2025, a shift that underscores the region’s rising importance for global wealth managers. Against the backdrop of resilient Asian equity markets and the rapid expansion of family-owned businesses, the Swiss private bank is doubling down on talent, discretionary portfolio management capabilities and relationship-driven advisory. Its latest senior appointments mark one of the firm’s most extensive leadership build-outs in Asia in recent years, revealing a long-term strategy aligned with demographic and structural trends across the region.

Strengthening Leadership Across Hong Kong and Singapore

The bank’s expansion has been powered by several high-profile hires aimed at enhancing its presence in key financial hubs. Alfred Low, appointed in September 2025 as CEO of Hong Kong and Head of North Asia Markets for private clients, is expected to play a central role in scaling Lombard Odier’s operations in Greater China. His experience in navigating complex client needs in North Asia strengthens the bank’s competitive positioning in a market crowded by global and regional players.

In parallel, the December 2024 appointment of Omar Shokur as regional head of Asia, Private Clients, and CEO of its Singapore subsidiary underscores the firm’s commitment to developing a unified regional strategy. Shokur’s dual role is particularly significant as Singapore continues to attract substantial wealth flows from families and entrepreneurs seeking stability, regulatory clarity and diversified investment access. Additional hires, including Fred Horsey as co-chief operating officer and general counsel in Hong Kong and Pei Pei Chern as senior relationship manager in Singapore, reflect the bank’s intention to expand both its governance capabilities and client acquisition capacity.

Targeting Asia’s Fast-Growing Wealth and Family Business Ecosystem

Lombard Odier emphasizes its identity as an eight-generation family business — a positioning that strongly resonates in Asia, where entrepreneurial families drive a majority of private wealth. By highlighting shared values of long-term stewardship, succession planning and intergenerational capital preservation, the bank aims to distinguish itself from larger, transaction-driven competitors.

A cornerstone of this strategy is the enhancement of its discretionary portfolio management platform. With Asian investors increasingly demanding professionalized, data-driven investment oversight, Lombard Odier’s DPM capabilities have become central to its pitch. The firm’s investments in technology, customized strategies and cross-border portfolio integration reflect a recognition that wealth clients in Asia have become more sophisticated in risk management and diversification needs.

Supported by Favorable Market Conditions and Rising Recognition

The strategic push comes at a time when the asset management division expects Asian equities to outperform in the second half of 2025, supported by domestic growth momentum, expanding technology sectors and strong consumer spending across regional economies. These macro forces create a supportive backdrop for Lombard Odier’s expansion, allowing the bank to capture upside from both cyclical market strength and structural wealth creation.

The firm’s rising profile in Asia was further validated in June 2025 when it received six accolades from the WealthBriefingAsia and WealthBriefingAsia Greater China Awards. These honors recognize excellence in client advisory, innovation and regional leadership, strengthening the bank’s brand at a pivotal moment of growth.

Looking Ahead

Lombard Odier’s accelerated regional expansion suggests the firm is positioning itself for a multi-year growth cycle driven by Asia’s wealth creation and maturing private banking landscape. The success of this strategy will depend on how effectively it can scale its leadership, deepen relationships with family businesses and deliver differentiated portfolio management services. As markets in Asia continue to evolve, the bank’s ability to pair heritage with innovation will determine whether it can secure a larger share of one of the world’s most competitive wealth hubs.

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