Leaders List interview: 60 seconds with Rob Lowe, Pictet Asset Services

Date: 13 Nov 2024

Karen Jones

This week’s 60-second piece is dedicated to Rob Lowe, Market Head at Pictet Asset Services.

Tell Citywealth readers a bit about your role.

I manage our UK Asset Services business, covering a diverse range of subjects; from supporting our current client base and prospective partnerships, through to responsibility of our UK relationship team.  I have additional global responsibilities for the business, including guiding our strategy as part of the executive committee, which naturally extends to collaboration with Pictet’s other business lines.

What does a typical day look like for you?

Diverse, different, never dull, and always with a focus on clients, from face to face discussions to solution enhancements.  I have a fantastic team surrounding me who I encourage to think creatively and see the world through clients’ eyes which brings new ideas for us to consider and debate day to day.

Tell us about some recent, interesting client instructions/requests you have received.

Multi Family Offices continue to be a cornerstone of our business and they continuously seek partnership based solutions, from product enhancements to simplifying their end-client’s experience.  We have recently launched ISA and SIPP products in response to managers seeking diversification across their platform providers.

What challenges do your clients face and how are you helping your clients to overcome them?

As a Business to Business model, the focus is on partnering with managers to help their underlying clients.  This takes many forms, from Fund Managers looking for one-stop shop solutions across the asset servicing value chain, to wealth managers responding to regulatory changes and client reporting needs.  

Pictet are in a fortunate position to view the world with a long-term lens.  This enables us to walk the talk in terms of client partnerships and developing solutions that are truly fitting of long-term trends and client needs vs. short term fads.  In the UK, our longest standing asset services clients joined us in 1995 and remain cornerstone clients today.

What is your proudest professional achievement?

Recognising an opportunity to support the UK financial services sector and to do that with an organisation which has credibility, clarity of strategy and a long-term approach.  I am particularly proud of developing a team with a culture that is the best I have experienced in my last 30 years in the industry.  Coming to work should be exciting, interesting and most importantly, provide lifelong, happy and fulfilling human interactions with colleagues and clients.

What do you consider to be the most important attributes for a leader?

Empathy.  Having older teenage children offers a tangible view in to the world that is evolving.  I respect and admire tradition, but also think leaders should equally embrace the world as seen by future generations. That should include neurodivergent, creative thinking and being digitally savvy whilst demonstrating an enduring commitment to quality.

Who do you most admire and why?

There are way too many people to mention.  I firmly believe in meritocracies, so I admire anyone who has taken life by the horns, made a difference by enhancing it positively, and then handing the reins successfully to a generation who can take that further.

Where was the last place you travelled to for work or pleasure?

Geneva, last week, home to Pictet’s head office. One of Europe’s delightful cities, steeped in history and influence.

If you weren’t in this industry, what else might you be doing?

A music producer or a photographer – the latter being an art form I found later in life which I will be pleased to have as a hobby in my golden years.  In an ideal world I would be good enough to make the PGA – I blame my younger self for not seeing the life-long virtues that golf has to offer.

How do you relax after a long day?

Spending time with my family, including the dog, and trying to be mindful by reflecting on the day whilst being prepared for the challenges of tomorrow…