About
Our people
Group Executive Committee
Yves Guélat
Group Chief Executive Officer
Yves Guélat
Group Chief Executive Officer
Yves Guélat is Group Chief Executive Officer of Charles Monat Associates.
Before taking the helm, Yves worked at Willis Towers Watson (ex-Willis) for over 11 years as CEO of the retail operations as well as the Global Wealth Solutions division in Switzerland. Before joining Willis Towers Watson, he was Managing Director at Aon, leading the Geneva branch office.
Yves has extensive experience in the insurance industry across all disciplines for clients in multiple jurisdictions. While the majority of his time has been in the insurance broking and advising on non-life insurance with specialties including Marine and Property, he has also been involved in the procurement of bespoke general insurance services for Ultra / High Net Worth individuals.
Charles S. Monat
Honorary Chairman
Charles S. Monat
Honorary Chairman
Charles S. Monat is the Founder and Honorary Chairman of Charles Monat Associates. He has over 50 years experience in the life insurance industry working with bankers, wealth planners, lawyers and accountants customizing solutions for their high net worth clients’ long term needs. He remains active in the business and is a lifetime member of the Million Dollar Round Table and the Top of the Table.
Mr. Monat founded the Charles Monat Group in 1971, established Charles Monat Associates Limited and Charles Monat Agency Limited in Hong Kong in 1995 and opened offices is Singapore in 2004 and in the US in 2010.
He was born in Brooklyn, New York, attended Erasmus Hall High School and graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1965 following which he worked as a social worker for the New York City Department of Welfare. After graduation from Officer Candidate School at Ft. Lee, Virginia in 1967 he served as a First Lieutenant in the US Army in Thailand.
Klaus Kiessling
Group Chief Financial Officer
Klaus Kiessling
Group Chief Financial Officer
Klaus Kiessling is the Group Chief Financial Officer of Charles Monat Associates, based in Singapore and Zurich.
In his role, Klaus is responsible for the company’s global financial strategy and oversees coordination and functions of various local teams in our markets including Finance, Tax, Legal, Due Diligence and Human Resources.
Prior to that, Klaus was the Chief Financial Officer at Willis Towers Watson in Switzerland for 9 years. Before that time he was the Chief Financial Officer / Chief Operations Officer at AON Switzerland for 10 years and being responsible for several mergers and integrations of companies into the group.
Klaus is an experienced financial services executive with over 30 years’ experience in Europe and Asia. He is graduated with a Bachelor of Accountancy and Controlling from the University of Stuttgart, Germany.
Tan Li San
Group Chief Operations Officer
Tan Li San
Group Chief Operations Officer
Li San Tan is the Group Chief Operations Officer of Charles Monat, based in Singapore.
In her role, Li San is responsible for optimizing operational processes globally and overseeing the company’s digital transformation across markets, including the enhancement of IT infrastructure, security, and cybersecurity, as well as implementing automation integration to streamline business processes.
Prior to joining Charles Monat, Li San has a wealth of experience overseeing operations teams in Singapore, Hong Kong, China, and Switzerland, as Head of Operations for Private Client Services at Mercer Group. She also previously worked for Jardine Lloyd Thompson Pte Ltd, Zuellig Insurance Brokers Pte Ltd, HSBC Insurance Brokers Pte Ltd and Aon Risk Services (Singapore) Pte Ltd, in a career in insurance which spans 25 years.
Li San is qualified as a Chartered Life Underwriter and has also gained a Diploma in Life Insurance, a Diploma in Compliance and a Diploma in International Trust Management.
Nikki Koh
Group Chief Commercial Officer & Chief Executive Officer, Singapore
Nikki Koh
Group Chief Commercial Officer & Chief Executive Officer, Singapore
Nikki Koh is the Group Chief Commercial Officer and Chief Executive Officer, Singapore of Charles Monat Associates, based in Singapore. He is also the Principal Officer of our Malaysia business.
Nikki is responsible for leading the group’s strategic revenue growth ambitions by creating new income streams through additional products / solutions and by developing new partnerships and platforms. He also oversees our Singapore and Malaysia businesses.
Nikki has over 25 years of insurance and banking experience acquired at Prudential Singapore, UOB and HSBC.
He has worked with the complete spectrum of segments including retail life insurance, consumer banking, business & commercial banking, priority banking and private banking. Starting out in sales and client advisory, Nikki has progressed into sales management, account management and general management.
Graduating with a Bachelor of Accountancy from Nanyang Technological University, Nikki is also a member of the Financial Planning Association of Singapore and has spoken at several bank seminars for high net worth segments on the topic of legacy planning / business insurance in Singapore and overseas.
Simon Lo
Chief Executive Officer, International
Simon Lo
Chief Executive Officer, International
Simon Lo is the Chief Executive Officer, International Business of Charles Monat Associates, based in Singapore
Simon began his career as an Assistant Attorney General with the Washington State Attorney General’s Office. His duties include advising the State’s Department of Labor and Industries on regulatory matters and litigating civil cases in state court. Simon later entered private practice with an esteemed law firm where he excelled as a defense litigator. He has represented multinational corporations such as Walmart and ExxonMobil.
Simon later joined one of the oldest life insurance brokerage firms in the United States as Vice-President & General Counsel, Asia Pacific. Simon was responsible for building business operations in the Middle East and Indian Subcontinent. He also advised high net worth individuals and corporate clients throughout Asia and Middle East on matters related to personal estate planning, business succession strategy, executive compensation, and life insurance solutions.
Simon received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and East Asian Studies from the University of Toronto, St. George. He went on to complete his Juris Doctorate degree from Michigan State University College of Law and served as a clerk to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Since 2014, Simon has partnered with the Wealth Management Institute of Singapore to train financial professionals and graduate students on the subjects of life insurance solution and estate planning. In 2018 he was invited to join the Nanyang Technological University (NTU-WMI) as an adjunct professor.
Teddy Chu
Chief Executive Officer, Hong Kong
Teddy Chu
Chief Executive Officer, Hong Kong
Teddy Chu is the Chief Executive Officer, Hong Kong of Charles Monat Associates, based in Hong Kong. Teddy is a seasoned wealth planner with over 25 years of experience in Asia, having previously worked at several private banks including HSBC, Deutsche Bank, Standard Chartered, BNP Paribas, and Royal Bank of Canada. Teddy specializes in advising and structuring wealth and succession planning arrangements for clients with the use of trusts, private investment companies, and life insurance policies to meet the multi-generational estate planning needs of high-net-worth families. He is also a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants (CPA) of Canada and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) of the United Kingdom.
Group Advisory Council
Rahul Chopra
Head of Dubai
Rahul Chopra
Head of Dubai
Rahul Chopra is the Head of the Dubai office and Managing Director for Charles Monat Associates, DIFC. He works closely with our partners to actively advise ultra-high net worth individuals (UHNWIs) on structuring their wealth, estate and legacy planning via life insurance solutions. He also leads and manages a team of Dubai-based sales consultants covering the region.
Rahul has over two decades of experience in the financial services industry. He worked in banking for more than 10 years with leading names including HSBC and Barclays. He then moved to the life insurance industry as head of products for a Dubai-headquartered company where he was instrumental in designing and developing both conventional life insurance and takaful products for the Middle East region. After that role he joined a leading international broking firm.
Rahul has extensive experience and a well-entrenched understanding of the life insurance proposition. He has successfully brought into play his technical knowledge of the product, proposition, and its’ objectives to place large and complex insurance requirements of UHNWIs with offshore insurance providers.
Rahul is an alumni of INSEAD and a Certified Financial Planner.
Marco Emanuele Liardo
Head Switzerland, Head Americas
Marco Emanuele Liardo
Head Switzerland, Head Americas
E. Marco Liardo is the Head and Managing Director for Switzerland and the Americas at Charles Monat Associates. In this role, he leads the development and delivery of highly personalized liquidity planning solutions, working closely with sophisticated private clients to help them preserve, protect, and grow their wealth across generations. Marco also mentors his sales consultant teams in Switzerland and the Americas, fostering a high-performance culture rooted in integrity and client focus. He manages a continuously growing network of trusted referral partners, cultivating long-term relationships. Marco is an appointed member of the Global Advisory Council, which reports directly to the Group Executive Committee. In this capacity, he contributes to shaping the firm’s strategic response to the evolving landscape of global wealth management. With 25 years of experience advising UHNW/HNW clients, Marco brings a deep understanding of both the technical aspects of insurance and the nuances of private banking. Prior to joining Charles Monat Associates, he successfully built and led the Swiss hub of another international life insurance brokerage firm. He also held a senior role in Private Banking Life Insurance, at a global Swiss private bank, where he led the launch and implementation of the bank’s life insurance referral platform in Switzerland. Earlier in his career, Marco served as Head of Financial Analysis and Senior M&A Manager at a leading global insurance group. Marco’s combined expertise in insurance structuring and private banking uniquely positions him to deliver exceptional succession planning advice to clients and banking partners alike. He holds a Master’s degree in Finance and Capital Markets from the University of Basel, Switzerland.
Our values guide every aspect of our work
Integrity
Honesty guides us, ensuring your trust.
Discretion
Your privacy is our priority, with a focus on confidentiality.
Excellence
We aim for the highest standards in strategy and service.
Partnership
We collaborate closely, aligning solutions with your goals.
Commitment
Dedicated to understanding and meeting your needs.