Jennifer Povlitz is a senior executive with experience creating top-line growth at three of the world’s leading financial institutions; UBS, Bank of America, and Merrill Lynch. She is regarded as a leader and influencer in the banking community with more than a dozen recognitions from top media outlets, including Barron’s, Crain’s NY, Los Angeles Business Journal, and San Francisco Business Times. Throughout her career, she has introduced both organic growth through channel differentiation and processes that scale, as well as inorganic growth strategies post-M&A.
Currently, Jennifer is co-head of U.S. wealth management leading a $5B business for UBS. In 2022 and 2021 she led her team to the strongest innovative top-line revenue and record profit level growth. She achieved these outstanding results by developing a deliberate client engagement strategy, implementing AI-enabled tools to predict client needs and preferences and leveraging synergies across the enterprise to offer a more comprehensive wealth management experience to clients. Additionally, she has championed numerous initiatives to diversify the client and employee base and served as Co-Chair of UBS’ Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council.
Previously, Jennifer held several roles with increasing accountability within Merrill Lynch’s wealth management business and was instrumental in identifying process improvement and simplification strategies to successfully integrate following Bank of America’s acquisition. As the Head of Bank of America’s Executive Client Relationship Group, she created a cross-business referral group that garnered billions of dollars in new business, restructured the business, dramatically reduced costs, and improved the client experience. This transformation was formally recognized with the Dalbar Award.
During her tenure as Managing Director for Merrill Lynch’s private banking and investment group in New York, the business doubled, exceeding goals for revenue and profit growth. She doubled the business by aligning channels to client industries and creating alliances through specialization, contributing to her team’s distinction as #1 out of 37 businesses. During her time as the Managing Director for the South Carolina Region, profits tripled.
Jennifer has also served on several boards, including committees related to strategic planning, finance, and governance. She is a mentor to Graceada Partners, a real estate private equity firm, advising on growth strategies through differentiation. Jennifer is a member of the University of California, Irvine Dean’s Advisory Board and Board for the Center for Wealth & Investment Management. She served as an Ambassador for the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) Pacific Southwest Chapter. Previously, she was the Finance & Membership Chair for Young Professionals Organization (YPO) Golden West Chapter.
Jennifer earned her MBA with honors from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and her Bachelor of Science degree in Business & Marketing from the University of Illinois. She also holds the Certified Financial Analyst (CFA®) Designation.