The holder of the new COO spot is already chief executive of the US business. The firm wants to make its operations more scalable and develop more tech platforms - hence the COO role.

Lombard International Group, which provides wealth and succession solutions for high net worth individuals across a number of regions, has appointed Michael Gordon as group chief operating officer as the firm gears up its technology strategy. The COO role adds to his current chief executive position for the US side of the business.

The COO function is a new one for Lombard and includes the global office of technology and transformation. Gordon joined Lombard in 2016. 

The appointment comes after Stuart Parkinson was made Lombard’s CEO at the start of April this year. (His appointment was announced in January.)

“To support our ambitious growth plans, and build upon the successes of recent years, we need to have robust and scalable operations and technology platforms,” Parkinson said in a statement yesterday. 

Prior to joining Lombard, Gordon served as the global head of insurance solutions at BNY Mellon Investment Management. Prior to this, he was an executive at New York Life Insurance Company, leading investment and insurance product management, including sales and marketing, actuarial, operational, and technology functions, as well as overseeing the broker dealer and the registered investment advisor for the US life insurance business. 

Lombard serves more than 20 markets across Asia, Europe, Latin America and the US and has $54.1 billion of assets under administration. The business is owned by funds run by Blackstone.

Lombard in March reported a 25 per cent year-on-year rise in new business premiums, at €5.7 billion ($7.43 billion) in 2019.