HSBC

A TENACIOUS DRIVE TO SET A DIFFERENT APPROACH

Maria-Gabriella Burgio-Chiappa, who is Managing Director and Business Head for Key Clients at HSBC, talks to WealthBriefing.

Maria-Gabriella Burgio-Chiappa

Managing Director and Business Head for Key Clients, HSBC

What have been the main obstacles you had to overcome and how did you do so to reach this level?

Over the last 40 years of my career, my perseverance, tenacity, and my mindset to never let go have enabled me to overcome many challenges, including successfully navigating a male-dominated industry.

As a woman, I have been able to offer a different approach and angle to tackle obstacles and bring alternative solutions which have earned me credibility and recognition amongst my colleagues and clients. I am pleased to see an increasing number of women at the senior management level of our industry.

What are the main contributions do you think you bring to the wealth management industry?

I rely on my both experience and values, which help me make good, sound decisions as well as solve and overcome complex situations. As a mother of two, I have taught my children to stick to their values and I am a strong advocate of the HSBC culture of speaking up which builds support and trust and enables us to thrive at work.

I have been mentoring for over 15 years, supporting, and developing talented women at more junior levels who have in turn become successful leaders over the years. Leading by example and being role model for colleagues is important to me.

How do awards such as this make a difference to your firm and your colleagues?

This recognition is not just for us but also for our clients. It is also a testament to the hard work that is achieved by our teams, the strength of our strategy, and how we go the extra mile for our clients.

The award also recognises how HSBC promotes equal opportunities for all, with diversity and inclusion in its DNA; something that I live and breathe in the senior roles I hold within the bank. Where in the world do you operate – are you mainly a domestic player or international?

HSBC Private Banking Switzerland is an international player servicing clients around the world ensuring that every aspect of their wealth requirements is catered to. We have a team of international specialists to design, tailor and help our clients implement solutions to grow, manage and preserve their wealth.

At HSBC we create strong partnerships with our clients, ensuring they can rely on our strong balance sheet and outstanding expertise. Our ability to seamlessly link clients with opportunities worldwide for both their commercial and personal wealth needs is also a significant added value of the banks’ impressive global footprint.

LEADING WOMAN IN WEALTH MANAGEMENT

WINNER Maria-Gabriella Burgio-Chiappa HSBC Private Bank

LEADING INDIVIDUAL

WINNER Neil Louis De Sousa HSBC Private Bank

“THIS RECOGNITION IS NOT JUST FOR US BUT ALSO FOR OUR CLIENTS. IT IS ALSO A TESTAMENT TO THE HARD WORK THAT IS ACHIEVED BY OUR TEAMS, THE STRENGTH OF OUR STRATEGY, AND HOW WE GO THE EXTRA MILE FOR OUR CLIENTS. THE AWARD ALSO RECOGNISES HOW HSBC PROMOTES EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL, WITH DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN ITS DNA; SOMETHING THAT I LIVE AND BREATHE IN THE SENIOR ROLES I HOLD WITHIN THE BANK.”