The organisational structure of VP Bank Group

VP Bank Group is subdivided into three organisational units: “Chief Executive Officer”, “Client Business” and “Chief Financial Officer & Banking Services”. 

From an organisational standpoint, 2015 was a year that centred on the integration of Centrum Bank AG into VP Bank Ltd, whereas the actual legal merger of the two entities took effect on 30 April 2015. As of that date, the name Centrum Bank AG ceased to exist and all of that company’s employees were shifted officially into a transitional organisation as of 1 May 2015. The primary goal of this transitional organisation was to maintain normal banking operations until Centrum Bank’s existing system platforms were no longer needed. The new organisational structures were adapted as of 1 January 2016. 

The Executive Board of VP Bank (Luxembourg) SA was expanded as of 9 March 2015 to include Antoine Baronnet, who, in his function as Head of Client Business, assumed responsibility for all client-related units. 

On 31 March 2015, the employment relationship with Rolf Jermann, Head of Corporate Clients and Credits in the Commercial Banking unit, was terminated by mutual agreement. Werner Wessner took over responsibility for the unit on an ad interim basis.

Andreas Zimmerli, Head of Group Operations, left VP Bank Ltd at the end of April 2015. His successor, Jürg Mühlethaler, held the post of Chief Operating Officer at Centrum Bank. 

Owing to the increasing importance of the intermediaries business, especially as a result of the merger with Centrum Bank AG and the demand at VP Bank’s international locations, the Inter­mediaries business unit has been restructured. As of 1 November 2015, Tobias Wehrli took over as the unit’s new head. Mr Wehrli’s predecessor in that post, Günther Kaufmann, now devotes his efforts to key clients and increases acquisition activities. 

VP Bank Group’s two fund administration companies, IFOS AG and VPB Finance SA, officially changed their names as of 3 August 2015. Both firms now do business under the umbrella name of “VP Fund Solutions”: IFOS AG was renamed to VP Fund Solutions (Liechtenstein) AG and VPB Finance SA to VP Fund Solutions (Luxembourg) SA. In this connection, Group-wide syner­gies are being emphasised and fund know-how is being consolidated under a uniform brand. Eduard von Kymmel, Head of VP Fund Solutions, has been in charge of VP Bank Group’s entire fund-related business since January 2015.

Roberto Vogt, Head of Private Banking CEE and Member of the Executive Board of VP Bank (Switzerland) Ltd, left the Bank as of 28 September 2015. In his former function, he was respon­sible for the Central & Eastern Europe as well as the Russian Federation markets. His successor, Thomas Westh Olsen, commenced the related activities on 1 November 2015.

Joachim Künzi, Chief Executive Officer of VP Bank (Switzerland) Ltd, left the Bank on 2 Novem­ber 2015 for personal reasons. He joined VP Bank (Switzerland) Ltd on 1 October 2013 and progressively turned it into a front-oriented subsidiary. Antony Lassanianos, Head of Private Banking Germany & Switzerland, Intermediaries and Member of the Executive Board of VP Bank (Switzerland) Ltd, took over Mr Künzi’s tasks as of 2 November 2015 on an ad interim basis.

Based on a comprehensive review of the Bank’s credit policies and strategies, Group Executive Management, under the leadership of Martin C. Beinhoff, decided to split the Front- and Mid-/Backoffice units for effect as of 1 January 2016. As a result of this separation, the Mid- and Back­office departments are now part of the Chief Operating Officer unit. The Frontoffice department remains with the Client Business unit.

Based on VP Bank Group’s strategy and medium-term goals for 2020, as well as the merger with Centrum Bank AG and the related changes in the structural and organisational requirements, the Board of Directors of VP Bank Group has reallocated the tasks within Group Executive Management for effect as of 1 January 2016 and appointed Martin C. Beinhoff as the new Chief Operating Officer. Since that date, he bears responsibility for the Group Operations, Group Credit, Group Information Technology and Group Treasury & Execution business units. 

Patrick D. Businger, Head of Group Treasury & Execution, decided to leave the Bank as of 5 January 2016 in order to pursue a new professional challenge. From March 2016 on, Claus Hug will be in charge of the unit. 

To vita

To vita

To vita