Reporting to partner Lorenzo Rocco di Torrepadula, Albrecht is responsible for developing internal wealth management operational processes as well as promoting all of the bank's business lines as part of its 360-degree service offer strategy.

Albrecht has more than 25 years' experience in banking, including 15 years in Swiss and international client development. Based in Geneva, he is primarily responsible for developing internal operational processes related to wealth management, enabling clients to benefit from an enhanced experience at all levels of their relationship with the bank, the firm said in a statement.

Prior to joining REYL Intesa Sanpaolo, Albrecht was head of French-speaking Switzerland as a member of the WM European committee at Deutsche Bank, then a member of the executive board and head of wealth management for French-speaking Switzerland at BNP Paribas. He began his career at UBS Warburg Dillon Read and Lombard Odier. Richard holds a BSc in economics from the University of Geneva and is also a graduate of the University of Michigan, IMD and Harvard Business School.

The firm said that this appointment reinforces its objective of promoting a range of high-end cross-functional services and high value-added solutions to its clientele of entrepreneurs, institutional investors and international family offices through the full range of its five business lines: wealth management, entrepreneur and family office services, corporate finance, asset services and asset management.

Commenting on the appointment, chief executive officer François Reyl, said: “We are very pleased to welcome someone of Richard Albrecht's calibre to the REYL Intesa Sanpaolo Group. We are counting on his entrepreneurial qualities to strengthen our policy of innovation and excellence, to ensure the long-term development of our group and to continue our commercial development in the service of our clients.”

Albrecht said: "The group's recent partnerships reflect its strong growth ambitions, incorporating an offer of high-end and tailor-made wealth management services for a clientele of entrepreneurs and international investors.”

Founded in 1973, REYL & Cie is a diversified banking group with offices in Switzerland (Geneva, Zurich, Lugano), Europe (London, Luxembourg, Malta) and the rest of the world (Singapore, Dubai). It manages assets in excess of SFr26 billion ($28.7) SFr38.7 billion including minority interests) and employs around 400 people. In 2021, it entered into a strategic partnership with Fideuram - Intesa Sanpaolo Private Banking, a prominent European banking player, through which Fideuram ISP acquired a 69 per cent stake in REYL & Cie.