Societe Generale and SG Kleinwort Hambros Create Leading French Desk in the UK

Societe Generale and SG Kleinwort Hambros Create Leading French Desk in the UK
 

Societe Generale and its UK Private Bank, SG Kleinwort Hambros, have today announced they have assembled one of the largest UK-based teams to offer private banking services and expertise for international clients with an interest in France and French speaking Europe, as well as the wealthy French living in London.   The newly formed French Nexus* team will be led by Gwenolé Le Blevennec.

“As part of the dynamic expansion of Societe Generale Private Banking throughout Europe, this represents an important step for our business and an opportunity to better serve our clients, while exceeding their expectations,” said Olivier Paccalin, Deputy Head of Societe Generale Private Banking. “By addressing one of the largest private banking markets in the world, we will capitalise on growing interest in French and British property, assets and investment.”
 
In addition to private banking services and market-leading proposition, the new French Nexus business in partnership with Societe Generale can offer clients a high level of bespoke service and expertise, including property, wine investments and vineyard banking, art, lifestyle interests and passion investing. Clients will also be able to receive verbal investment services in French or English as desired. 

“Our objective is to help clients simplify their financial challenges by helping them manage their wealth and interests based between the UK, France and further abroad.” said Derek Hammond, Head of Private Banking, Commercial Director, SG Kleinwort Hambros. “As part of Societe Generale Private Banking, we have brought together the very best people, expertise and service for our French Nexus clients.”

Alongside Gwenolé, the French Nexus desk will consist of a team of senior private bankers, including Jeremy de Lagarde, Laure Gazzolo, Jerome Giet, Jean Olivari, Cécile Viera and Jenny Willison.

-Ends-

Note to Editors
*Clients who have a financial interest in both the UK and France, or Francophone Europe, is a significant yet underserved market: the French Nexus. There are an estimated 250,000 French nationals living in the UK and 139,000 British citizens living in France (Source: Consulate General of France in the UK).
 

Biographies

Gwenolé Le Blevennec, Director, and Head of the French Nexus team. With 26 years of private banking and wealth management in London and in New York City, advising French and other international high and ultra-high net worth individuals and families.  Graduated from University Paris IX Dauphine, Gwenolé has an Executive MBA from Bayes Business School (formerly Cass Business School) – City University.  He is a CFA Charterholder, a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst and a member of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment.

Jeremy de Lagarde is a Private Banking Director with a focus on Entrepreneurs. Jeremy has more than 15 years of experience and previously worked at Citi Wealth Management providing services to International high-net worth customers. Jeremy has a Master in telecoms and a Master in European business at ESCP Business School. He is a former member of France’s international rowing team.

Laure Gazzolo is a Senior Private Banker and has 26 years of experience working in various multi and single-family offices in London, looking after high net worth individuals’ wealth and family matters. She spent the earlier part of her career working for private banks and brokerage firm in France advising clients on equities. She holds a Master in private wealth management from ESCP Business School and she graduated from University Paris Nanterre in economics. 

Jerome Giet is a Senior Private Banker.  After 18 years working in the global finance departments of large international companies such as HP, AstraZeneca and Britvic across five countries, Jerome changed career to wealth management and worked in London for Equance and St James’s Place.  Jerome has a Master in wealth management and real estate (IMPI) from Kedge Business School.  He holds the Regulated Financial Advisor diploma from the Chartered Insurance Institute.

Jean Olivari is a Senior Private Banker.  A Chartered Wealth Manager by training, Jean worked for 20 years at Coutts where he provided investment and mortgage advice to European nationals.  He previously worked for 4 years at NatWest Private Banking in their private client department. Jean holds a Master of arts in international political economy from the University of Warwick and attended the London School of Economics’ Summer School.  He has published articles about international wealth planning in French and English magazines.

Cécile Viera is a Senior Private Banker and has been at Kleinwort Hambros since 2015. Cécile’s roles have included UK Domestic and Western European clients and she advises on international planning, asset management and regulated and unregulated financing.  She is a Chartered Member (MCSI) and a Certified Private Client Investment Advice & Management (PCIAM) from the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment. Cécile is a Certified Mortgage Advisor (CMA) and has a Master in wealth and international financial planning from Skema Business School.  She graduated from Toulouse School of Management and Toulouse School of Economics in 2013.

Jenny Willison is a Senior Private Banker and has 16 years of experience working across both Commercial and Private Banking in London. Jenny began her career with NatWest Commercial Banking, working with Media & Technology companies, before moving to Private Banking with Coutts to manage UK Domestic clients within the Sports & Entertainment, and Landowners sectors. Most recently having spent the last six years with Banque Transatlantique. Jenny focuses on British and other international individuals and families with connections to France and continental Europe. She is a qualified regulated mortgage advisor (CeMAP) and holds the Investment Advice Diploma from the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment. 

For all press enquiries please contact: 
Lansons 
Andreea Adascalitei
+44 7929730793
andreeaa@lansons.com 

SG Kleinwort Hambros

Established in 1786 and 1839 respectively, Kleinwort and Hambros have been helping clients manage their wealth for over 200 years. Kleinwort Hambros is the private banking and wealth management brand of Societe Generale in the UK. 

Kleinwort Hambros was created in 2016 following the merger of Kleinwort Benson and Societe Generale Private Banking Hambros. 

With assets under management of £12.51bn and around 630 employees as at end June 2022, Kleinwort Hambros has offices in London, Cambridge, Newbury, Leeds, Edinburgh, Guernsey, Jersey and Gibraltar.

Kleinwort Hambros provides individuals, families, entrepreneurs and family offices with comprehensive wealth management and private banking services including investment management, domestic and international wealth planning, lending, fiduciary and banking services, as well as mid-corporate advisory services on both a direct and intermediated basis.  

www.kleinworthambros.com  

Societe Generale

Societe Generale is one of the leading European financial services groups. Based on a diversified and integrated banking model, the Group combines financial strength and proven expertise in innovation with a strategy of sustainable growth.

Committed to the positive transformations of the world’s societies and economies, Societe Generale and its teams seek to build, day after day, together with its clients, a better and sustainable future through responsible and innovative financial solutions.

Active in the real economy for over 150 years, with a solid position in Europe and connected to the rest of the world, Societe Generale has over 117,000 members of staff in 66 countries and supports on a daily basis 25 million individual clients, businesses and institutional investors around the world by offering a wide range of advisory services and tailored financial solutions. The Group is built on three complementary core businesses:

▪ French Retail Banking which encompasses the Societe Generale, Credit du Nord and Boursorama brands. Each offers a full range of financial services with omnichannel products at the cutting edge of digital innovation;
▪ International Retail Banking, Insurance and Financial Services, with networks in Africa, Central and Eastern Europe and specialised businesses that are leaders in their markets;
▪ Global Banking and Investor Solutions, which offers recognised expertise, key international locations and integrated solutions.

Societe Generale is included in the principal socially responsible investment indices: DJSI (Europe), FTSE4Good (Global and Europe), Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index, Refinitiv Diversity and Inclusion Index, Euronext Vigeo (Europe and Eurozone), STOXX Global ESG Leaders indexes, and the MSCI Low Carbon Leaders Index (World and Europe).

In case of doubt regarding the authenticity of this press release, please go to the end of Societe Generale’s newsroom page where official Press Releases sent by Societe Generale can be certified using blockchain technology. A link will allow you to check the document’s legitimacy directly on the web page.

For more information, you can follow us on twitter @societegenerale or visit our website www.societegenerale.com