‘Continuity is in the DNA of the organisation,’ Etienne d’Arenberg, Mirabaud’s head of UK market, says of the Swiss private bank, which is gearing towards its 200th anniversary in 2019.
The year has been busy for d’Arenberg, who has been recruiting ‘high-calibre’ staff from Barclays and Banque Havilland for Mirabaud’s new London office, headed by Harry Thorburn. ‘It’s been very productive in terms of client performances,’ he notes.
There’s been renewed interest in alternative investments, and d’Arenberg says Mirabaud’s sustainable and impact investment is thriving too since its 2011 partnership with Interpeace, an organisation dedicated to lasting peace in war-torn regions. He says both institutions and individuals are finding ways to participate, and Mirabaud offers a strategy by donating part of its commission earned to Interpeace.
There’s positive development on the equality platform too, as d’Arenberg reports a 30 per cent increase of the number of women in key client and investment management roles. But he thinks the rest of the industry should follow suit. ‘One of our managing partners is a woman and this makes us stand out uniquely amongst private banks,’ he says.
Outside his offices, the Belgian prince is an active philanthropist who is passionate about music. He recently worked hard to bring the prestigious Menuhin competition to Geneva for the first time.