At Skandia International, Steve Hickman has joined international sales team as global head of high net worth. Hickman joined from HSBC in Hong Kong, where he was head of distribution for high net worth business. Prior to HSBC, he worked for American International Assurance in Hong Kong and has total 18 years of insurance experience, including nine years in Asia.
Xerxes Wong has joined the commercial product team of Skandia International as the head actuary, high net worth Asia. He joined from American International Assurance in Hong Kong, and has also worked for American International Assurance in India, HSBC in Hong Kong and Standard Life in Hong Kong.
Carol Wong will be joining the Old Mutual Global Investors team as head of distribution for Asia in November 2013, subject to regulatory approval, the company said.
Wong will join from BNP Investment Partners in Hong Kong where she was head of distribution for Hong Kong, China and South East Asia.
She has spent the last 15 years at BNP, and has previously worked at Jardine Fleming Unit Trusts in Hong Kong and at HSBC in Hong Kong. She has about 19 years of experience in Asian investment management industry.
According to the company, Old Mutual Wealth plans to deliver a broader set of investment solutions designed specifically for customers in Asia, combining the strength of Skandia International and Old Mutual Global Investors.
Paul Feeney, chief executive of Old Mutual Wealth, said , "Asia is fast becoming one of the world’s wealthiest regions, and a core part of our strategy is to leverage the strength of our combined businesses to grow our proposition in the region. Strengthening our presence, broadening our capability, and ultimately our customer reach, will allow us to capture these growth opportunities as they develop."
As part of these growth plans, Skandia International plans to expand its product suite in Asia to complement its existing life and investment products, addressing a wider set of customer needs.
At the same time, Old Mutual Global Investors look to extend its presence in the region by partnering with regionally based global financial institutions, regional banks and wealth managers.
Old Mutual Wealth’s plans to grow its presence in Asia are in recognition of the opportunities the region has to offer in terms of rise in population and wealth, the company said.
