The Board of Directors of the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) has appointed Stefan Walter as the new CEO of the Authority, and the Federal Council has approved the appointment.。

Stefan Walter will take up his new post on April 1, 2024。Until then, Birgit Rutishauser will remain as interim CEO of FINMA.。

Stefan Walter will replace Urban Angehrn, who will step down 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, who has been director-general of the European Central Bank (ECB) since 2014, was initially responsible for overseeing the eurozone's systemic banks, including nine global systemically important banks (G-SIBs), which he led for six years.。

He has been in charge of the ECB's horizontal risk supervision since 2020.。This includes all categories of risk, especially credit and liquidity risk, as well as developing and conducting stress tests.。

Prior to joining the European Central Bank, Stefan Walter spent two years at Ernst & Young as head of the Global Banking Regulatory and Supervisory Policy Network.。From 2006 to 2011 he was Secretary General of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision。

Prior to that, he held various positions at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, most recently as Senior Vice President for Regulatory 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 March 31, 2024。