UnionBank—recognized as the Best Wealth Management Bank in the Philippines by The Asian Banker—has recently partnered with INSEAD, a global leader in business education, to launch the ASCEND Program. This strategic learning initiative is designed to enhance the capabilities of the bank’s Relationship Managers (RMs) across Wealth Management, Private Banking, and Retail Banking.
The partnership was formalized through a ceremonial signing led by Ana Aboitiz Delgado, President and CEO of UnionBank, and Prof. Sameer Hasija, Dean of INSEAD Asia Campus and Executive Education. The event marks the beginning of a multi-year collaboration that reflects UnionBank’s bold, forward-looking approach to developing world-class banking talent.
Joining Prof. Hasija from INSEAD were Mr. Karthik Rajaraman, Senior Director, Corporate Partnerships, and Mr. VJ Posadas, Director, Corporate Partnerships. Representing UnionBank’s senior leadership team were Ms. Michelle Rubio, Chief Human Resource Officer; Mr. Manoj Varma, Consumer Banking Center Head; Mr. Gauraw Srivastava, Wealth Management Head; and Mr. Gautam Sharma, Wealth Sales Network Head.
The ASCEND Program is a transformative learning initiative that aims to equip UnionBank’s top performing Relationship Managers with global insights and advanced skills in macroeconomics, market dynamics, behavioral economics, and emerging trends in wealth management.
“Today marks the beginning of a meaningful partnership—one that reflects our deep commitment to investing in our people and shaping the future of banking,” said Ana Aboitiz Delgado, UnionBank President and CEO. “At UnionBank, we believe that excellence in client service begins with excellence in talent. That’s why we are focused on building the best-skilled Relationship Managers in the Philippines—professionals who are not only technically capable, but also deeply attuned to the needs, ambitions, and goals of our clients.”
“When an organization shares the DNA of learning and calls its learning service provider a partner, you know that this mindset runs deep,” shared Prof. Sameer Hasija, Dean of INSEAD Asia Campus and Executive Education. “It’s exciting to see the real potential for impact that a collaboration like this can bring.”
Under the program’s first phase, selected Relationship Managers underwent a two-day intensive training conducted by INSEAD faculty. Future phases will expand the program’s reach and integrate digital learning modules covering topics such as digital currencies, tokenization, and artificial intelligence, ensuring UnionBank’s advisors remain at the forefront of global financial innovation.
UnionBank’s partnership with INSEAD marks a major step toward redefining wealth advisory in the Philippines. At the heart of this initiative is a bold vision: to transform client relationships by positioning advisors not just as bankers, but as trusted, forward-thinking professionals who continuously learn, adapt, and evolve to serve their clients with deeper insight and expertise.
UnionBank places a strong emphasis on continuous learning and expert-led advisory by spotlighting its Relationship Managers (RMs) as key drivers of its high tech–high touch approach. The Beyond the Graph video series highlights how RMs blend data-driven insights with advanced technology to deliver personalized strategies—while maintaining the human connection that clients value. The ASCEND Program builds on this approach, equipping advisors to go beyond the numbers and provide meaningful, tailored guidance rooted in both expertise and empathy.
This strategic collaboration underscores UnionBank’s global outlook and its unwavering commitment to being the advisor of choice. By investing in the continuous growth and development of its people, UnionBank reinforces its reputation as a trusted steward of client wealth—equipped to navigate today’s complex financial landscape with both confidence and care.
