Robert J. McCann

McCann's career at Merrill Lynch began in 1982 and spanned 26 years. From 2003 and until his departure in January 2009, McCann was Vice Chairman of Merrill Lynch and President of Global Wealth Management.[7] During his tenure, McCann held a variety of executive leadership positions. He was the Vice-Chairman of the firm's Wealth Management Group (including Global Private Client and Merrill Lynch Investment Managers), the Head of Global Securities Research and Economics (2001 to 2003), Chief Operating Officer of Global Markets and Investment Banking (2000), and Head of Global Institutional Sales (1998 to 2000).[8]

As Head of the Global Equity Trading & Markets Division, he was responsible for trading and risk management activities relating to Merrill's equity products, which provided issuers and investors access to world markets through the global underwriting, trading and distribution of stocks. In 1998, McCann took over the Global Institutional Client Division, where he was responsible for all debt and equity client relationships.

In 2001, McCann became a member of the Executive Management Committee and was named Head of Global Securities Research and Economics, responsible for all equity, fixed income and economic research worldwide. In addition, McCann worked in 2003 in AXA Finance as the Vice-Chairman in distribution and marketing.

McCann is presently Chairman of UBS Americas, having stepped down as President of UBS Wealth Management Americas (formerly CEO of Wealth Management Americas) and as a member of the UBS Group AG Group Executive Board effective January 2016, roles he took on when he joined the firm in October 2009.[9] McCann has also held the position of President Americas since December 2011 (formerly CEO of UBS Group Americas). After the restructuring of UBS AG to become UBS Group AG in 2014, he was appointed to the same position.[9]

As President of UBS Wealth Management Americas, McCann coordinated Wealth Management Americas, the Investment Bank and the Asset Management divisions, which conduct business in the U.S., Canada, Latin America and South America.[2]

Under McCann, Wealth Management Americas conceived Revitalizing America, an initiative that consists of high-profile speaking engagements along with programs aimed at the U.S. economy.[10] The Clinton Foundation and UBS Wealth Management Americas formed the CEO-UBS Small Business Advisory Program, a philanthropic partnership aimed at boosting business and job growth by bolstering the knowledge and skills of small business owners in underserved communities. The Foundation's Clinton Economic Opportunity Initiative (CEO) and UBS Wealth Management Americas in 2011 concluded the six-month pilot mentorship program in the New York City metropolitan area, where small business owners received guidance from a UBS financial advisor, along with access to Wealth Management Americas clients who are experienced business leaders.[11] In 2012 this programme was rolled out across firms in Chicago and Los Angeles.[12]

On August 13th 2020, McCann announced his public departure from UBS[13]

McCann is the founder of the McCann Learning Center at Bethany College, his alma mater. The mission of the center is to enhance the learning skills of all students, transform the college experience of students with learning disabilities and support the heightened performance of faculty and staff.[16] McCann also established the McCann Family Student Investment Fund, which enables Bethany students to serve as investment professionals in managing and investing endowment funds.[17] In 2015, McCann and his wife Cindy donated a challenge gift in order to fund technology upgrades, personnel, and modern processes.[18]

McCann first got involved with The American Ireland Fund in 1998. Through his involvement with The American Ireland Fund, his focus has been on education and intercultural communication, where he helped raise funds to build a grade school in Northern Ireland dedicated to integrated education. He currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors.[19] In 2016, McCann received the Chairman's Award of the Fund.[20]

McCann is an Executive Patron and member of the Presidents Circle of No Greater Sacrifice, an organization that funds the education of children of military personnel who have been wounded or killed in the line of duty.[21] He currently sits on the board of the Irish Arts Center in New York.[22] In 2018, the National College Access Network named McCann their 2018 Champion of College Access.[23]