CEOs of Swiss wealth management banks committed to Sustainable Finance

 

 

Jean Berthoud, Chairman, Banque Bonhôte & Cie SA

“We strive towards sustainable growth and value creation for future generations.”

This vision is reflected in our financial services offering. At Bonhôte, ESG principles are an integral part of our investment process and preference is given to sustainable investments in our asset allocation strategy. The bank also offers a discretionary mandate in responsible investment and an Impact Fund, devoted exclusively to this theme. The bank is about to get its “B Corp” certification. This internationally recognized label is used by companies that meet the highest standards in terms of ESG matters. 

 

Vivien Jain CEO – Aquila AG

“Sustainable corporate governance and sustainable finance should become the norm.” 

For a long time, sustainability was a label that companies could use to positively distinguish themselves, but those days are over. The awareness of the public, regulators, customers, but also employees has changed massively and wherever we as a financial institution and employer can promote sustainable thinking and action, we want to do so. Our measures therefore range from the review of suppliers and the appointment of an ESG officer to the design of sustainable model portfolios on the investment side.

 

Giorgio Pradelli CEO – EFG International AG

“Investing in innovation will determine the prosperity of the next generation.” 

I believe that sustainability is all about choosing the right path to balance economic, environmental and social interests. The needs and expectations of the next generation can be met by actively steering capital flows: the targeted allocation of capital is crucial to contribute to the global sustainable development goals, since this determines which technologies receive support and financing. I am convinced that the health and prosperity of future generations is dependent on our ability to redirect capital to technological developments that will drive the future value chain since the world can no longer afford to waste energy and other key resources. 

 

Barbara Vannotti-Holzrichter CEO – Scobag Privatbank AG

"Sustainability is very individual and does not stop with investments." 

Sustainable finance is part of our DNA because of our history and owners. Whereas in the past the issue was mainly addressed through exclusion criteria, today we have our own ESG rating process for the companies in which we invest. Due to our direct investment approach, we can reflect individual preferences or priorities of our clients in the portfolio construction. The topic is multi-layered and is becoming more demanding and complex, not least due to regulatory requirements for corporate and investment reporting.

 

Zeno Staub, CEO Vontobel

“Take responsibility and act.” 

Establishing the path towards a climate-neutral economy that preserves precious resources is the most important challenge of our time. This historic transformation process will create many opportunities for investors, but it also harbours risks. As a global investment company, we have been engaging in an active dialogue on this subject with both our private and institutional clients. For them, it is crucial that the sustainable investment solutions we offer can achieve financial success and provide them with the possibility of orienting their investment decisions around their specific goals and personal values. 

 

François Pauly CEO – Edmond de Rothschild (Suisse) SA

“Making wealth the starting point to build the world of tomorrow.” 

Our ambition is to be a driving force of sustainable development. Our current reflections therefore include the service we provide to our clients and the investment solutions we offer them, the engagement of our employees, our impact on the environment as well as the place of human capital in our growth models. In terms of investment, we are convinced that extra-financial criteria are a key performance driver over the long-term. We also approach financial innovation as a source of progress for the real economy, remaining constantly focused on the future generations.

 

Stephan A. Zwahlen CEO – Maerki Baumann & Co. AG

“Cooperation with partners creates credibility in the area of sustainable investing.“

The topic of sustainability is omnipresent in the advisory work performed by Maerki Baumann every day. Moreover, this is true with respect to both private clients of all ages as well as institutional clients. We consider it our corporate responsibility to provide clients with transparency in terms of the impact of their investment on the environment and society. It is for this reason that we intend to further expand our cooperation with Globalance Bank – a pioneer in the area of sustainable investing. Working together with a specialist partner company creates credibility and allows us to focus on our core competencies in the area of long-term, independent asset management.

 

Guy de Picciotto CEO – Union Bancaire Privée, UBP SA

“Sustainable finance is our responsibility.“

“I consider it our responsibility as financial intermediaries to play an active role in helping solve the world’s major environmental and societal issues. Our main lever in this effort is channelling our clients’ investments towards solutions that tackle those challenges. We have therefore developed a wide range of responsible investment strategies, including a franchise of impact funds. In addition to being a signatory to the UN PRI since 2012, we support the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), as increased transparency combined with a harmonisation of sustainable financial products is more crucial than ever. “

 

Philipp Rickenbacher CEO – Julius Bär Gruppe AG

“We want to empower our clients to make a positive impact.“ 

Julius Baer’s purpose it to create value beyond wealth. This supports us in our ambition to empower clients to make a positive and measurable impact on the world. We pursue a holistic sustainability approach that brings together responsible wealth management and our own corporate activities. In responsible wealth management, our thematic focus is on addressing the overuse of natural resources, and the underuse of human resources. Looking at these two challenges, we have developed an ecosystem of services, designed to accompany our clients on every step of their sustainability journey. To further implement and develop our sustainability strategy, we are currently creating a new training curriculum, enhancing our reporting capabilities, and further developing our climate strategy. 

 

Vittorio Cornaro CEO – Cornèr Bank Ltd.

“Sustainable development as part of a family business tradition.“ 

As a family business now in the hands of its third generation, we at Cornèr Bank have shared a corporate culture of responsible value creation for almost 70 years. We have devoted particular attention to our relationship with our territory and our role in society, all while maintaining the future-oriented vision that has always defined us. We firmly believe that, in order to create long-term value for our clients, we will have to continue to rely on a responsible family business culture, which has always been our distinctive feature.

 

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Switzerland’s wealth management banks are engaging against climate change | finance.swiss