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 interim CEO of FINMA until then.
Stefan Walter succeeds Urban Angehrn, who resigned at the end of September 2023, and Birgit Rutishauser, who is currently overseeing operations as interim CEO. The Board conducted an extensive search to fill the position.
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 department for six years.
As of 2020, he is responsible for horizontal risk supervision at the ECB. This included all risk categories, in particular credit and liquidity risks, as well as the development and conduct of stress testing.
Prior to joining the European Central Bank, Stefan Walter held the role of World Bank Regulatory and Supervisory Policy Network at Ernst & Young for two years. From 2006 to 2011 he was Secretary General of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision.
Prior to that, he held various roles at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, most recently 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.