Zurich, 10 July 2020 – Julius Baer will launch a new offering for direct private investments outside the traditional stock market business for its very wealthy and sophisticated private banking clients looking for investment opportunities in private equity, private debt, and other unlisted or illiquid assets.

As of 1 October 2020, the Bank will create a dedicated unit led by Giuseppe De Filippo to offer access to private market transactions across all its regions via professionals in its major booking centres. The unit will complement Julius Baer’s current product range and will be embedded in its Markets division.

Dieter Enkelmann, Chief Financial Officer Julius Baer, said: “I am delighted to announce the hiring of Giuseppe and a team of proven experts to form this newly created unit ‘Direct Private Investments’. With their background, their experience, and international network, Giuseppe and the new team are perfectly equipped to successfully roll out these important services, expanding the capabilities of our Markets division and, thus, our relevance for UHNW clients.”

Giuseppe De Filippo is one of the leading experts in the private market industry, with a vast network among companies, alternative asset managers, and investors. He joins from UBS, where he held various roles and, in the end, had been leading the Direct Investments Group and the Corporate Finance Group, globally. Prior to this, he worked as an Associate Principal with McKinsey & Company in Zurich, Singapore, and Shanghai from 1999 to 2006. Giuseppe holds a Master’s degree in Physics from the University of Pisa and a PhD in Physics from the University of Copenhagen.

Several other external and internal professionals will join Giuseppe De Filippo. They will contribute expertise in structuring, sourcing, and distributing transactions.

This step follows the Bank’s strategic announcement in February 2020, that it will invest more in its range of solutions and expertise, which are among the most comprehensive in the industry, to enhance its relevance for clients and capture new market opportunities. Direct investments are one of the fastest growing asset classes for UHNW clients and family offices seeking diversification, asymmetric returns, and to tap into emerging megatrends.