UBS’s Robbie Vanderzeil retires

Robbie Vanderzeil. Picture: Attila Szilvasi.

One of the top equity capital markets specialists, Robbie Vanderzeil, has announced his retirement from UBS amid an unprecedented period of market volatility.

His retirement after 21 years comes as panic selling over the coronavirus crisis sends markets plunging.

Mr Vanderzeil has widely been considered one of the best market operatives when it comes to floats and equity raisings in Australia.

An internal UBS memo written by country head Anthony Sweetman describes him as one of the key contributors to both the UBS equities and global banking businesses, helping to maintaining the bank’s number one position.

He has been responsible for raising more equity than anyone in the industry.

His departure follows the exit of UBS Australia country head Matthew Grounds and senior banker Guy Fowler.

Mr Vanderzeil led hedge fund sales through the M&A boom of the mid 2000s and transferred to global banking as the head of capital markets before returning to Australia as head of equities.

In 2014, he transitioned back to global banking as chairman of capital markets, a position that he has maintained over the past six years.

“Everyone that has had the opportunity to work with Robbie during his career will appreciate his unique intensity and ability to evolve with the market and our clients,” Mr Sweetman said.

The note describes how his role changes can be compared to his own personal development of originally smoking in the office during trading hours with the rest of the sales desk, to a vegan diet and holidaying at health retreats.

The memo said that in addition to his personal contribution to clients, transactions and the broader business Mr Vanderzeil had developed “an outstanding team across our capital markets business which is well positioned to maintain its dominant market position”.