Webster Bank is a decidedly local bank but when it comes to its investment and wealth management services, its thinking is distinctly global.
Yves Cochez, the private banks new chief investment strategist, wants to make sure that Webster puts on that global thinking cap more often.
I am doing a lot in terms of educating internally but also externally with clients on the opportunities we have on a global basis and making sure the message gets across that whatever is not in the U.S. is not necessarily riskier, he said in a mild French accent.
Cochezs global perspective is not surprising given his extensive international background.
Our portfolios have had exposure to international markets before, the Belgian national said of Websters investment management philosophy. Im trying to some extent to improve on what we were doing before from a global perspective. But its not a revolution.
As chief investment strategist, Cochez wants to bring more than an international perspective on things. He is the throes of an effort to revamp Websters investment offering. He is assessing the banks third-party asset manager platform to make sure clients have access to the best talent in each asset class, he said.
He is also looking to expand the banks investment offerings. Last month, he introduced the banks first ETF portfolio and plans to add four more for other risk profiles.
For Cochez, the goal is to position Websters nascent private banking business for growth.
Webster Bank is expanding from the private banking perspective, and we know that investment management is really key if we want to expand the overall business, he said.
To position the business for growth, Cochez is looking for ways to make investment management more efficient from a systems perspective. Specifically, he is looking at software and platform enhancements to improve client reporting, manager screening and risk management.
As in any other private banking business, we always look at ways to improve on how we do things, Cochez said. The trick is to take investment strategies, which look nice on paper, and implement them into client portfolios in the most efficient way, a process that hinges on strong communication with clients and Websters private bankers, Cochez said.
For all the preparation, growth of the private banking business isnt expected until 2014. The goal has been to have everything in place this year in anticipation of growth next year, Cochez said.
Cochez might potentially hire more portfolio managers going forward but could not give a precise number. He currently manages a team of five portfolio managers and one investment administrator.
Its very important for us to keep extremely close relationships with our client base. Although we have global view of the market, we are still very much a local bank and its very important for us that we dont have too many client relationships and not have enough people to provide tailored services, he said.
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