As a follow on from our last ‘Meet the team article’, where we introduced Jeremy Green who heads our UK team, we are continuing to highlight our colleagues who lead our regional offices.
This week we spoke to Pierre Pineau, who heads our Singapore office, to understand more about his career, expertise and career advice.
Meet Pierre Pineau
Pierre has always been a “nomad”. He found himself relocating to different cities and countries at a young age. He left home at 17 to study in Paris, then moved to Belgium and from there to Southeast Asia at 28. With 15 years of recruitment experience spanning Europe and Southeast Asia, Pierre’s focus shifted to Family Offices in 2017, where one of the private bankers he had worked with introduced him to a Family Office client.
Recognising the rising demand for Family Offices in Asia, he joined Agreus, using Singapore as a base for serving the whole region. Like Jeremy, Pierre prioritises trust and relationship-building for himself and his team.
“It can be difficult to gain the trust of an Asian family,” he says, “so it can take a long time to nurture the relationship and finally receive a mandate from them.”
Recognition of expertise
When we asked him for his favourite success story at Agreus, Pierre says he felt grateful for the recognition of his expertise when UBS asked him to join a panel discussion about compensation.
While he is excited to establish Agreus’ Singapore presence, he recognises the office faces challenges due to the nascency of the Family Office sector in the region, compared with the much more mature and established ones in Europe and the US. He has to invest a lot of effort in educating Family Offices on effective hiring practices.
Fortunately, his prior experience in wealth management recruitment allows him to source the best talent in the region, which helps in Singapore especially, as changes to the law (please see Singapore continues to tighten rules on Family Offices) have led to a high demand for investment professionals.
Career advice
Pierre advises aspiring Family Office professionals to manage their expectations. He has found many assume these roles come with a luxurious workstyle, where the reality is quite hands-on, requiring a willingness to ‘get your hands dirty’.
“It is really important for both the potential hires and Family Offices to consider cultural fit during the recruitment process,” he says. “Candidates need to consider how they align with the Family Office’s values and ethos before committing as well.”
The appeal of Singapore
Highlighting Singapore's appeal for Family Offices, Pierre cites its stellar infrastructure, top-tier education, safety, and attractive lifestyle, complemented by tax benefits and immigration advantages. Beyond work, Pierre prioritises fatherhood, believing that a happy family fuels professional success.
Want to find out more?
Agreus is an established full-service resources and recruitment consultancy dedicated to working exclusively with Family Offices. We have successfully placed executive-level to entry-level professionals in investments, legal, finance and operational roles in Family Offices across the world. Understanding the unique dynamics of a Family Office, Agreus not only provides perfect candidates but also offers advice on compensation and retention.
Whether you are seeking talent for your Family Office or looking for exciting opportunities, Agreus is the go-to partner. Get in touch for a tailored conversation or explore available positions at Agreus Jobs.