The Board of Directors of the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) has appointed Stefan Walter as the authority’s new CEO. The Federal Council ratified this appointment today.
Stefan Walter will take up his new role on 1 April 2024. Birgit Rutishauser will remain FINMA’s interim CEO until then.
Stefan Walter succeeds Urban Angehrn, who stepped down at the end of September 2023, and Birgit Rutishauser, who is currently overseeing operations as interim CEO. The Board of Directors conducted a broad search to fill the post.
Stefan Walter has been Director General at the European Central Bank (ECB) since 2014. There, he was initially responsible for the supervision of systemic banks in the eurozone. These included nine global systemically important banks (G-SIBs). He led the division for six years.
Since 2020, he has been responsible for horizontal risk supervision at the ECB. This encompassed all categories of risk, in particular credit and liquidity risks, as well as developing and conducting stress tests.
Before joining the European Central Bank, Stefan Walter held the role of Global Bank Regulatory and Supervisory Policy Network Leader at Ernst & Young for two years. From 2006 until 2011, he was Secretary General of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision.
Prior to this, he held various roles at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, most recently that of Senior Vice President responsible for supervisory policy, financial analysis, and financial stability.
Stefan Walter studied at the University of California, Berkeley and Columbia University and holds a master’s degree in International Banking and Finance.
Birgit Rutishauser will remain interim CEO until 31 March 2024.
