The privately-owned wealth management and investment advisory firm Bessemer Trust has appointed Christopher Poch as managing director and head of the firm’s Washington, DC office.

Prior to joining Bessemer, Poch was founder and chief executive officer of Purpose Advisors and CEO of The Private Trust Company of Boston-based LPL Financial. He was also a managing director at Citigroup Global.

In his new role, Poch will oversee a team of client account managers, business development professionals and administrative personnel, and is responsible for maintaining and developing client relationships in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC.

He reports to Eric Gies and Stephen Watson, who oversee the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic markets.

Bessemer Trust was founded in 1907 and focuses exclusively on high-net-worth families and their foundations and endowments. The firm oversees more than $55 billion in assets for approximately 2,000 relationships.