Mel Chen

Mel is the Chief Financial Officer at Syon Capital, where she oversees the firm’s accounting, finance, and financial planning and analysis (FP&A) functions. Before stepping into the CFO role, Mel served as Chief Operating Officer and played an instrumental role in launching Syon alongside Ash Chopra in 2022. She was key in establishing the firm’s internal policies and procedures, driving client initiatives, recruiting talent, and leading special projects that supported Syon’s early growth.

Prior to Syon, Mel was Vice President and Senior Private Wealth Investment Manager with The Chopra Group at Merrill Private Wealth Management in San Francisco. She began her career at Merrill during the Great Recession, joining the Global Wealth & Investment Management division in Boston. Over her 14-year tenure, she rose through the ranks from a seasonal intern to client service associate, financial advisor, senior analyst, and, ultimately, senior investment manager in the Private Wealth division. Through this journey, Mel built deep experience across the core pillars of holistic wealth management including client relationship management, strategic tax and estate planning, goal-based investment strategy, and operational leadership.

Mel holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy with a minor in Economics from the University of Massachusetts, Boston.

On a personal note, Mel is a reformed couch potato who finally discovered the wonders of exercise in her early 30’s. Since then, she’s completed two full marathons (one successfully without injury) and dabbled in hiking, yoga, dragon boat racing, Pilates, Kendo, and strength training.