Christel Rendu de Lint, co-CEO of Swiss investment firm Vontobel, emphasized the importance of human judgment in the age of artificial intelligence during an interview with Swissinfo. She highlighted the challenges posed by a strong Swiss franc and growing geopolitical uncertainty, noting that these factors play to Vontobel’s strengths in providing stability and investment expertise.
Rendu de Lint discussed the need for proportionate, predictable, stable, and pragmatic regulation, especially as Switzerland tightens banking regulations. She also touched on Vontobel’s unique model, which integrates private and institutional clients under a single ‘investment factory,’ ensuring transparency and disciplined processes.
Regarding market opportunities, she identified Switzerland, Germany, Italy, and the United States as core growth markets for private clients, while institutional clients span Asia and the Middle East. She contrasted Vontobel’s focus on investment management with banks like UBS, which are more focused on lending.
The conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have shifted demand toward sustainable investing, with Rendu de Lint noting that material sustainability factors are now part of Vontobel’s fiduciary duty.