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Digitalization will take off – even in the relatively slower-moving wealth segment – said newly minted APAC managing director of Crealogix, a Swiss firm that provides digital banking software-as-a-service solutions.

Apart from a renewed focus on mobile and conversational banking, the current crisis will have a huge impact on financial advisors who have so far have relied on strong, personal connections with their clients, Karsten Kemna told finews.asia in an interview.

The senior executive, who has lived in Singapore for the past 13 years and held senior positions with APAC-wide responsibility at various firms, joined Crealogix in mid-April 2020 to lead its development in a region it considers a strategic key market. He discusses how the firm is navigating the Covid-19 pandemic and its growth plans for the region.

Karsten Kemna, walk me through a typical day now, given that most firms have implemented work-from-home processes.

Just like everyone else on my team, I am working from home and I’m delighted that it’s been a smooth process since we started to do so. I am mostly on calls and in online meetings with colleagues here in Singapore, Switzerland, Germany and the U.K. Here in Asia, twice a week the team here and I enjoy a virtual morning coffee meeting which we take turns to host. We discuss our to-dos and business topics, and we also chat about fun topics such as past holidays or who has the best face masks.

«We look to the long-term, new opportunities and business models that can come about in volatile times»

Nevertheless, we still live up to our mission: To provide our customers with the best digital banking solution around the globe. We stay in touch with our stakeholders as much as possible and ensure business-as-usual. Furthermore, we look to the long-term, new opportunities and business models that can come about in volatile times. It’s by taking this approach that we can take bold and innovative steps, help to define «the new normal» and come out of the downturn even stronger.

Has your approach to work changed as a result of Covid-19?

Crealogix is a digital-first company. So, bringing people together in remote teams is part of our day-to-day business. But the unpredicted challenge for the whole company to pivot and work from home from one day to another in such a short turnaround has definitely been interesting, as it showed the resilience of the people and how they are able to cope with changes if they have to.

We may be physically isolated, but we are in close contact with one another, and we are inventing new ways of working with even more virtual gatherings. So I would say the approach has not fundamentally changed, however, I am definitely looking forward to meeting the team in person again when we return to normality – whatever that new norm will look like.

What are some practices/tools you use to maintain a work-life balance now?

It definitely seems harder to draw a line between work and private life when you spend the whole day in the same physical location. But one of my strategies is to stick to routines that help define and shape my day.

By «timing myself» I become aware of how long it takes me to complete a task, so I can manage them better. And of course, my family, especially my children, help me a lot to relax and chill out at the end of the working day.

Where do you see banking headed, coming out of the crisis?