Morgan Stanley is rounding out its digital wealth management capabilities to help boost advisor productivity and offer a slicker, more innovative and intuitive client experience.

Morgan Stanley has brought in former Charles Schwab executive Naureen Hassan as chief digital officer within its wealth management division.

This is a new role at the company in which Hassan will lead the strategy and marketing of digital tools and platforms serving its 16,000 financial advisors and 3.5 million clients. She starts on March 1.

“We will now focus on developing new digital resources that can make our financial advisors more productive and enhance convenience and ease-of-use for clients, along with tracking financial performance in line with their goals,” said Chris Randazzo, chief information officer for wealth management and investment management at US-listed Morgan Stanley.

Hassan was latterly executive vice president of investment services segments and platforms at Schwab, leading Schwab Intelligent Portfolios and overseeing client experience and web and mobile channels. She has held a number of executive positions, including chief operating officer of Charles Schwab Bank, since joining the company in 2003. 

Earlier this month, Morgan Stanley promoted its investment banking chief, Colm Kelleher, to president, making him the heir apparent to current chief executive James Gorman, and prompting Greg Fleming, head of wealth management, to depart (see more here).

Among other changes, it was announced that Jim Rosenthal – in addition to his role as COO – now leads the development of Morgan Stanley's digital offering for financial advisors and wealth management clients.

"Digital technology and its potential for our business is one of the most important strategic opportunities we face," Morgan Stanley said at the time.

Hassan will report jointly to Rosenthal and to Shelley O’Connor and Andy Saperstein as co-heads of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, the firm confirmed to Family Wealth Report.