Spear’s Review

David Durlacher, chief executive officer of Julius Baer in the UK and Guernsey, is clear about the firm’s role in the wider financial services landscape. 

‘Julius Baer is not a firm for everybody; we do not try and be all things to all people. But what we do, we do exceptionally well,’ he has said. 

Durlacher joined Julius Baer when the firm acquired Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2013. He had previously held a number of roles at Merrill Lynch, originally joining the business as an associate financial adviser. 

After three years as head of relationship management at Julius Baer, Durlacher was promoted to CEO of the UK and Guernsey business in 2016. He places value in the wealth manager’s heritage as a Swiss private bank – and the strength offered by its position on the international stage.

In 2024, the firm continued its UK expansion with the unveiling of its Glasgow office – its seventh in the UK – following outposts in Belfast, Edinburgh, Leeds, London, Manchester and Newcastle. ‘By maintaining a strong local presence, we’re able to tap into the unique characteristics of each region, and deepen our understanding of the factors that impact our clients,’ Durlacher said in a recent LinkedIn post. 

Julius Baer reported CHF 482.6 billion in assets under management at end-June 2025, an increase of CHF 9 billion compared with year-end 2024. With Stefan Bollinger at the helm as group CEO, it appears that things are moving in a positive direction.

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