RBC Wealth Management’s current Asia head will retire with an internal successor selected and slated to take over in November.
RBC Wealth Management has appointed Kamran Azim as head, wealth management Asia and CEO of the bank’s Singapore branch, according to an announcement, effective November 1. He succeeds Rod Ireland, who will retire on December 31 after working at RBC for more than 25 years, including the last three years as the Asia wealth head.
Azim has been working at the Canadian bank for nearly two decades across wealth management capital markets after first joining the Toronto office in 2008. Within the wealth unit, he held multiple leadership roles including head of private banking, Singapore, and chief operating officer for Asia, driving strategic growth initiatives and operational transformation.
“We are pleased to build on Rod’s legacy with Kamran’s appointment. Drawing on his commercial acumen, strong connectivity across RBC globally, and demonstrated success in executing strategic initiatives, Kamran is exceptionally positioned to advance our strategic priorities and deliver excellence for our clients across Asia,” commented Wayne Bossert, deputy chair of RBC Wealth Management.
Regional expansion drive
Azim takes the helm at the Canadian private bank in the midst of a regional expansion drive.
Last month, it added half more than half a dozen bankers in Asia, including ex-UBS executive Thomas Jost as head of financial intermediaries (FIM) desk in Singapore. In June it grew it Hong Kong office with another four bankers, including Amanda Yeung, 25-year wealth veteran and former deputy head of private banking at China Construction Bank (Asia).
RBC has maintained a presence in Hong Kong since 1969 and Singapore since 1975. It wealth management business in Asia currently includes booking centres in Hong Kong and Singapore, a representative office in Beijing, and an operations hub in Malaysia, focused on serving clients from Hong Kong, mainland China, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
