Credit Suisse has announced a slew of senior hires and appointments as it reshuffles its investment banking and capital markets (IBCM) franchise in Asia-Pacific (APAC) to support its growth ambitions in the region and deepens coverage of what it considers as growth sectors. The bank is investing selectively in new hires and elevating future leaders from within its internal pool of talent.
After 13 years as head of merger & acquisition (M&A) for APAC, Joe Gallagher will step back from this role and focus on his other roles as vice-chairman of IBCM for APAC, working closely with the product and client coverage teams, and as chairman of APAC investment banking committee.
Succeeding Gallagher as head of M&A is Christian Deiss, who has spent his nearly 23-year investment banking career at Credit Suisse. He has been based in Hong Kong for the past decade after relocating from New York, where he was managing director in M&A covering the energy industry.
With Deiss’ appointment, there will be a dedicated team covering industrials, and energy & infrastructure. Sanjeev Chaurasia is named head of industrials and renewable coverage for APAC, while Aaron Tan is appointed co-head of energy and infrastructure. Christopher Chua is appointed deputy head of M&A for APAC, in addition to his existing role as head of M&A for Greater China.
Southeast Asia markets
In other appointments, Kuan-Ern Tan is named co-head of IBCM for Southeast Asia and frontier markets to succeed Pankaj Goel, who is leaving Credit Suisse by the end of 2021 to pursue opportunities outside of investment banking. Having been with the bank for over a decade, Tan, who will maintain his current role as deputy CEO for Singapore, will work alongside Rehan Anwer to drive the further growth of the bank’s IBCM franchises in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and frontier markets.
Zi-Kuan Lim is appointed head of M&A for Southeast Asia and frontier markets. Lim joined the bank’s M&A team in 2005 and was co-head of corporate finance for Southeast Asia for six years from 2013 and was promoted to managing director in 2018.
Angeline Aw is named head of Singapore coverage in IBCM. She joined Credit Suisse in 2004 as an analyst and was promoted to managing director in 2019.
To strengthen its sector coverage in IBCM, Southeast Asia and frontier markets, Credit Suisse hired Angelo Coloma as director and head of real estate coverage for Southeast Asia and frontier markets. He was previously chief executive officer of SC Health Corporation, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) where he executed the SPAC initial public offering in 2019 and successfully guided the company through a DeSPAC combination with Rockley Photonics.
Harish Kumar joins Credit Suisse as a director to lead the coverage of clients in the technology, media and telecommunications sector in Southeast Asia and frontier markets.
Alex Wong is appointed head of mobility and industrials technology for APAC. He will continue to advise on private transactions for the fast-growing pre-IPO clients in these sectors.
Healthcare coverage
In other IBCM appointments, Fisher Zhou is named managing director and head of healthcare coverage for APAC. He previously spent 14 years at CITIC/CLSA where he was a managing director and ran the firm’s healthcare investment banking business for the last eight years.
Jeremy Lane is appointed head of metals & mining, Asia, a coverage area within Credit Suisse’s APAC industrials franchise.
Commenting on these new hires and appointments, Zeth Hung, co-head of IBCM for APAC, says Credit Suisse’s human capital strategy is based on investing selectively in new talent as well as nurturing future leaders from within the firm. “As we continue to drive accelerated growth for our business in the region, these appointments will bolster our position to capitalize on the opportunities available,” he adds.
Echoing Hung’s comments, Edwin Low, co-head of IBCM for APAC, says the internal promotions reflect Credit Suisse’s deep talent bench and also help the bank with an orderly succession plan, creating a team with an inherent long-term control culture.
