Harvey Chapel: An unconventional path into private banking
Originally from Middlesbrough in the Northeast of England, Harvey grew up in Halifax in West Yorkshire, a market town known for its textile heritage. He played basketball throughout his youth and moved to the US at the age of 18 to play high school and then college basketball. He also captained the England Under-22s and competed in the European Championships.
This sporting experience has greatly influenced his approach to work and success. It taught him the value of perseverance, discipline and teamwork. Competing at a high level showed him that success comes from consistently doing the right things over time. He focuses on actions rather than results. Larry Bird, one of the world’s greatest basketball players, embodies values that resonate with Harvey; his work ethic and competitiveness reflect this outlook.
After finishing his college basketball career, he completed an MBA on an academic scholarship and the returned to the UK, joining a graduate programme.
Following advice from a mentor, he then decided to gain sales experience. This led him into IT, where he managed complex client relationships and sold large scale and mission critical solutions.
Harvey’s unconventional profile drew interest, and in 2006, the world-class investment firm AllianceBernstein approached him to help establish their UK wealth management operation. They were looking for individuals with relationship management skills rather than traditional banking backgrounds.
AllianceBernstein was very unusual. They didn't hire from within the industry because their model was very different. They looked for people with a skill set that I had, the first three hires were myself, a director at Capgemini, and a senior at IBM.
The company’s seven-month training programme, which included three months in New York, laid the foundations for him to become a finance professional. He had to learn how to become a banker. The real skills involve asking the right questions, listening carefully, understanding the client’s needs and truly getting underneath the surface.
Harvey spent a considerable amount of time building relationships with professional advisers, accountants, lawyers and corporate finance specialists who work with entrepreneurs on significant transactions. As his reputation grew, client referrals became another driver of growth.
Harvey leveraged the strong network he built over the years to join Barclays in 2012, as a key client banker in Yorkshire. He went on to run the private bank business for key clients and ultra-high-net-worth individuals across the North of England.
He helped establish a Banker Academy at Barclays that created a culture of continuous improvement, acknowledging that the skills required for relationship banking must be developed rather than assumed.
His elite sports background instilled a process-driven approach that Harvey still follows today. “Success is effectively a process, and it simply requires consistently doing the right things in the right way over an extended period. I have a sheet of paper that lists all the things I need to do each year to be successful and focus my time on these activities.”
For younger professionals entering the industry, Harvey's unconventional career path offers reassurance that diverse backgrounds can be a competitive advantage, especially at a time when AI can replace the work once done by junior staff. He therefore sees technology as a means of augmenting, rather than replacing, human relationships. AI cannot build trust or relationships. “People are going to need skills that are relevant to where businesses are going today. All the soft skills are required, and that's what I'm looking forwhen I hire.”
After 14 years at Barclays, Harvey decided to join Pictet whose philosophy mirrored the needs of his clients. The Swiss bank's independence, solidity (sometimes summed up by the word fortress) and multi-generational focus aligned with his client base of entrepreneurs seeking long-term family partnerships, free from the conflicts of interest that arise from having shareholders.
Pictet is very special and truly different; it has a boutique feel. We can offer scale, a genuine client focus, a conflict-free approach and a track record spanning centuries.
Today, as a managing director and senior private banker at Pictet, Harvey is responsible for building successful client relationships across the North of England, along with his former colleague at Barclays, Sean Evans. In due course, he’ll look to hire new bankers to cover other parts of the UK.
He is driven by a genuine passion for people and a deep curiosity about their needs. His approach is built on trust, honesty and a commitment to helping clients achieve their goals, even when it means having difficult conversations. It is this integrity and empathy that have defined his exceptional career.
Private banking, like elite sport, requires a process and discipline that never changes.
Harvey believes that the North of England represents an attractive opportunity for Pictet UK. He notes that many prestigious institutions maintain a presence in the region. “There's a very strong entrepreneurial community, and to be successful in the North of England or other regions, you need people who are on the ground, who are part of that community.” As wealthy families seek genuine partnerships rather than transactional relationships, banks must demonstrate long-term thinking and multi generational expertise. Pictet's structure positions it well for this evolution.
Relationship success depends on reputation and referrals within tight-knit communities. “When somebody with significant wealth in my region gets that wealth, they will likely know someone who knows me.” For Harvey, personal connections and professional networks are essential. This network approach requires patience and authenticity.
The integration of next-generation family members into client relationships is an example of this approach. “As a banker, if you don't know the whole family, you're not doing your job. A lot of my clients ask me about their kids and seek my thoughts and advice.” Clients seek trusted advisers who understand their complete situations and can navigate complex family and business dynamics.
Harvey structures his schedule to balance training, family and client relationships without compromise. Most mornings, he can be found training at 5.00 am, allowing him to have breakfast with his family before work begins and to be back in time for dinner. This methodical approach extends beyond personal productivity.
Being able to still play sports at a high level, work with amazing colleagues and, by definition, work with some of the most successful people in the UK is incredible.
Harvey's journey teaches us that authentic relationships, built on genuine understanding and sustained through disciplined processes, lay the foundations for long-term success in private banking. Passion and drive also ensure that you love the job. After all, it’s a people business.
Technology may transform operational efficiency, but the human elements of trust, empathy and personal connection are irreplaceable when it comes to serving clients who measure relationships in generations rather than quarters.
“I am truly excited and proud to bring a prestigious private bank such Pictet to the North of England. I am looking forward to supporting the growth and success of our clients and working with our professional partners.”
