Is it just me or are there others fascinated by the idea that two of the brightest, youngest stars in the world of private banking will go head to head as arch-rivals at the end of summer?, finews.asia's editor-at-large Shruti Advani writes.

I refer of course to Boris Collardi – whose fame allows him to be referred to as simply «Boris», rather like Madonna – and Iqbal Khan, whose abrupt departure as the head of International Wealth Management at Credit Suisse last week has been all anyone on Zurich's Bahnhofstrasse wants to talk about, unless they are a tourist.

It goes without saying that Collardi will have given more than a passing thought to where Khan will go next. Regardless of whether it is Julius Baer, UBS or another bank, Khan, referred to as the «most ambitious banker» at arguably Switzerland’s most ambitious private bank, is a worthy rival.

«The loyalty Boris Collardi inspires is legendary»

Both Collardi and Khan cut their teeth at Credit Suisse, learning private banking in a style that is particular to Switzerland – a mutation of the Swiss apprentice system that allows for chosen proteges to rise rapidly amongst the ranks. Both are storied leaders, eminently presentable with personal charisma and affability rarely seen in banking.

The loyalty Collardi inspires is legendary – the promise of being reunited with him continues to lure bankers away from Julius Baer, 18 months after he left the bank.

«Affability, when paired with insight, makes CEOs»

Loyalty to Khan is yet to be tested but given that he pre-dated CEO Tidjane Thiam at Credit Suisse, it would not be surprising if he is able to cherry-pick top bankers globally. However, affability on its own will only help make a relationship manager. Affability, when paired with insight, makes CEOs.

And when it comes to insight, few can claim to have as much as either Collardi or Khan. The former re-wrote the rulebook when, as CEO of Julius Baer, he bought Merrill Lynch’s international wealth management business at a price so favorable, the American bank’s Chairman repeatedly commented on his prowess as a negotiator.

«Seeing them go head to head will be like having ringside views to a Tyson fight»

During his time with Ernst & Young (EY) when he was directly involved with auditing UBS, Khan saw first-hand the creativity and frustration involved in balancing a bank’s books. If anyone knows where the bodies are buried, these two do.

Indeed, so stark are the professional similarities between the two, Collardi could be forgiven for thinking he was seeing a doppelganger. «Iqbal is aware he is sometimes compared to Boris,» says one former colleague, who believes the younger man finds it difficult to appear as guileless as Collardi manages to, having been much more blatant about his ambitions. Seeing them go head to head – at two very different institutions battling for the same pool of clients – will be like having ringside views to a Tyson fight. Only better.