Nov 14 (Reuters) - Swiss lender UBS has hired

longtime Morgan Stanley ( MS ) executive Ben Firestein to

oversee field leader development and national recruiting &

retention for its U.S. wealth management business, according to

an internal memo seen by Reuters on Friday.

"Attracting and retaining top financial advisers remain

among our highest priorities," Mike Camacho, head of global

wealth management U.S., said in the memo.

Firestein joins UBS from Morgan Stanley ( MS ), where he spent more

than three decades, including in leadership roles, most recently

as head of national recruiting for the wealth management and

private wealth management unit.

He brings experience in adviser development, recruiting and

field leadership and will start in February in New York,

reporting directly to Camacho.

In his new role, Firestein will design and lead a manager

leadership program, oversee business transition and succession

planning for advisers and drive the firm's national recruiting

strategy, the memo said.