(Reuters) - UBS (UBSG.S), opens new tab promoted Lisa Golia to lead its U.S. wealth management advisers in the field on March 1 after serving as chief operating officer for the business over the last two years, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters on Tuesday.
Golia, who spent more than two decades at Morgan Stanley, will serve as UBS' head of the field in charge of leadership, hiring, retention and compensation.
"Lisa's someone who can get things done," said Ken Gunsberger, private wealth adviser based in New York.
"This is going to be very good for us because she’s one of us," he said, citing her career starting in a branch and climbing the ranks.
Golia will report to Mike Camacho, UBS' head of U.S. wealth management.
Camacho will shift his focus to strategic priorities, including building out UBS' U.S. bank, which has received conditional approval from regulators, steering business from other divisions and developing products for wealthy clients.
"Every department is fighting for funding to do more - Lisa is helpful in trying to prioritize where the money needs to be spent," such as adding technology to help advisers, said Michael Chudd, private wealth adviser in Las Vegas.
The appointment also prompted other leadership changes:
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John Vander Zee will succeed Golia as COO.
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Ben Firestein, who joined UBS after more than three decades at Morgan Stanley, was appointed head of national sales, field leader and financial adviser development and recruiting, reporting to Golia. He will focus on attracting, retaining and developing advisers.
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Regional directors Chris DiMuria, Julie Fox, Rick Gonzalez, Lauren Gorsche, and Jon Ramey will report to Golia under the new structure.
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Other executives who will report to Golia include: John Mathews, head of private wealth management, Bill Carroll, head of high-net-worth strategy, and Len Golub, head of the Wealth Advice Center.
By Lananh Nguyen
Editing by Anil D'Silva
