Boris Collardi, the 34 year-old named by WealthBulletin last year as the number one rising star in European wealth management, has been appointed chief executive of Bank Julius Baer.

It makes him the private bank's youngest ever chief executive at arguably the most challenging time in its recent history. While old hands are being brought in to steer the likes of UBS and Union Bancaire Privee through the aftermath of the financial crisis, Julius Baer is showing a remarkable degree of confidence in Collardi's youthful abilities.