Preparing for the new normal
Ian Cramb
Group COO
Since the beginning of the health crisis, we have been keeping you informed of the measures we have implemented to prevent the coronavirus from spreading. After having activated our BCP (Business Continuity Plan), which involved arranging for almost all the staff to work from home to ensure the Bank could carry on its activities during lockdown, staff is partly working back in the office in rotations, applying their local authorities’ recommendations. We are maintaining heightened hygiene and security measures across the Group and any amendments to our safety protocols are discussed and approved by our Pandemic Task Force and UBP’s management.
Having an established, tried and tested business continuity strategy has enabled us to stay mobilised for our clients throughout the most critical weeks of the health crisis, and the experience and dedication of our teams have ensured that we could maintain the quality of our services. Being prepared and flexible, we were able to adapt the Group’s business quickly to the situation, which is likely to become the new normal.
The virus remains present and is still, or again, spreading in many regions. We therefore remain vigilant, our top priority being to protect the health of our employees and their loved ones, as well as that of our partners and clients.
Communication and visits
At this sensitive time, strong and frequent communication with our clients is more critical than ever. Our preferred form of interaction with our clients for the time being is remote contact using audio- and videoconferencing facilities as well as e-banking, for example, a system that offers not only transaction facilities but also highly secure means of communication.
Any unavoidable face-to-face meetings can be organised externally or in-house. Unless specific local rules forbid it, we are happy to welcome our clients at our premises, having put in place strict health and safety measures (which you can read about in our notice ‘Visit UBP safely’). We also continue to keep you up to date on the health crisis and its effects on economies and markets through our usual communication channels.
Travel policy
Business trips are allowed under certain conditions and must systematically be approved by the Group COO. As for private travel, the Bank regularly reminds staff of the recommended safety precautions and maintains a list of countries and their level of risk. Self-isolation and working from home for a certain period is required upon return from travel.
Spokespersons
Bernard Schuster – Head of Group Communications
+41 58 819 36 51
bernard.schuster@ubp.ch
Maude Hug – Head of Media Relations
+41 58 819 75 27
maude.hug@ubp.ch
Investing in a post-lockdown world.
Michaël Lok
Co-CEO Asset Management, Group CIO
After many weeks of almost total standstill, economies gradually started to regroup over the summer. Central banks and governments have launched substantial stimulus programmes and despite the second wave affecting several regions, recovery is on the cards as the prospect of a vaccine becomes more tangible.
Yet the health crisis has considerably reshaped economies and financial markets. Rather than a return to normal, what we should be preparing for is the new normal.
Our investment experts have factored in this paradigm shift and we continue to adapt our portfolio construction strategies to the major societal and environmental challenges we face in this changed landscape.
Read our latest publications providing insight into the new investment approaches to consider in the post-lockdown world.