HSBC, Gallagher and St James’s Place Announce Wealth Hires

HSBC is combining its UK high-net-worth and Special Segments teams under one leader. Philip Aleppo, who joined the bank as UK head of Financial Markets in 2023 and became head of Special Segments in 2024, will oversee the teams in an expanded role. HSBC said he helped build both business lines.

Nick Wolf, previously head of high-net-worth clients in London and the south, has taken the newly created post of head of UK Expat for the UAE. Based in Dubai, he will report to Feras Al Jaramani, head of UAE at HSBC Private Bank. The role is intended to support UK clients living and working in the UAE as the UK-UAE wealth corridor grows in importance. HSBC UK Bank Private Bank CEO Charles Boulton said the changes would bring specialist capabilities closer together and strengthen coverage of the UK and key international corridors.

Gallagher has appointed Austen Robilliard as director of investment portfolio solutions in its UK Benefits & HR Consulting division. He brings more than 20 years of experience in wealth and investment management, including 19 years at Titan Wealth Planning. Most recently, he was interim chief executive of IWP Investment Management. Gallagher co-head of Investment, UK, Tara Gillespie, cited his investment expertise, fund-selection experience and work developing investment propositions.

St James’s Place has appointed seven financial services professionals to its partnership, which comprises nearly 5,000 advisers and about 2,700 Partner practices. The new partners are Emma Medi Jones, Michelle Arnold, Louis Eyles, James Saddler, George Everett-Elliott, Rahul Trivedi and Nathan Emslie. Their backgrounds include financial planning, private banking, pensions, employee benefits, mortgage advice and investment services. SJP chief executive James Rainbow said they brought experience in financial services, business and advice.