EFG previously announced that Maria Leistner had been appointed as Global Head of Legal & Compliance of EFG, effective 01 November 2022. However, Maria Leistner will now focus on a more strategic role as a Board member. She will therefore be proposed for election to the Board of Directors of EFG international at the next AGM, when she will succeed Steven Jacobs, who is not standing for re-election. Steven Jacobs has contributed significantly to the strategic development and growth of EFG over the past six years, and he played a key role in the successful transformation of the bank after the acquisition of BSI. Susanne Brandenberger also played a key part in the integration of EFG International and BSI; as Chair of the Risk Committee, she oversaw the design and implementation of a new Risk Management Framework for the new Group and has substantially strengthened the risk function and procedures over the last eight years.
Maria Leistner is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in the area of legal and compliance in the financial industry. Most recently, she served as Group Chief Legal Officer and a member of the Executive Board of Quintet Private Bank, Luxembourg, where she oversaw the compliance, legal and data protection functions. Between 2016 and 2019, she held senior legal positions at UBS in Zurich and previously also spent over ten years at Credit Suisse. She is a qualified solicitor in England and Wales and an attorney in New York and she practiced in major English and American law firms before entering the banking industry.
Alexander Classen, Chair of EFG’s Board of Directors: “We are pleased to propose Maria Leistner for election to EFG’s Board of Directors at the next AGM. With her vast experience and proven track record in the financial industry, she will be a great asset to the Board and further drive and support EFG’s growth strategy. Together with the Executive Committee, we will continue to pursue our bank’s long-term ambitions. The Board would like to sincerely thank Susanne Brandenberger and Steve Jacobs for their substantial contribution to EFG’s successful development and growth and for their outstanding commitment during their respective tenures. They both played an important role in transforming the bank and in defining and implementing EFG’s profitable and sustainable growth strategy. We are pleased that we will continue to benefit from their expertise until the next AGM.”
Changes to EFG’s Executive Committee and Global Business Committee
EFG is today also announcing that Vassiliki Dimitrakopoulou will assume the role of Global Head of Legal & Compliance and become a member of the Executive Committee of EFG International. Since April 2022, Vassiliki Dimitrakopoulou has successfully performed this role on an interim basis in addition to her existing responsibilities as Group Head of Regulatory Affairs. Vassiliki Dimitrakopoulou is based in Zurich and reports directly to CEO Giorgio Pradelli.
Vassiliki Dimitrakopoulou is a recognised expert in the fields of legal and compliance and has pursued a successful career at EFG Group since 1992. Prior to serving as interim Global Head of Legal & Compliance, she held the positions of Deputy Group General Counsel (Legal International) and Group Head of Regulatory Affairs. She was instrumental in building and transforming the Group’s Legal International division and in setting up the Regulatory Affairs function. Furthermore, Vassiliki Dimitrakopoulou played a vital role during the BSI integration when she oversaw the timely completion of all legal mergers and the corporate restructuring of the Group. Vassiliki Dimitrakopoulou holds a Law degree from the University of Athens and a LL.M in Banking Law from King’s College London. She is admitted to the Athens Bar.
Furthermore, Ioanna Archimandriti, Global Head of Human Resources, has been appointed as a member of the Global Business Committee of EFG International. Ioanna Archimandriti joined EFG in 2016 and successfully led several Group-wide transformation programmes as Head of Transformation and Chief of Staff to the CEO. She was appointed Global Head of Human Resources in 2021 and has since transformed the bank’s global HR function with a focus on processes, services and employee engagement to support EFG’s ambition to become an employer of choice. Ioanna Archimandriti is based in Geneva and reports directly to CEO Giorgio Pradelli.
Before joining EFG, Ioanna Archimandriti spent 17 years at Eurobank, Greece, as Head of Transformation and held various other senior strategy and governance roles. Prior to that, she worked as an investment banker at Brean Murray & Co. in New York for six years. Ioanna Archimandriti holds a Law degree from the University of Athens, an LL.M in Corporate Law from New York University and an MBA from Athens University of Economics and Business. She is admitted to the New York Bar.
Giorgio Pradelli, Chief Executive Officer: “I am very pleased that Vassiliki Dimitrakopoulou is confirmed in the role of Global Head of Legal & Compliance after a very successful interim tenure since April 2022. Her extensive knowhow and longstanding experience were crucial in building a strong regulatory compliance framework for our bank. The appointment of Ioanna Archimandriti to the Global Business Committee recognises her outstanding dedication and commitment in transforming our bank and in promoting people and talent. Both colleagues are role models and their success is a testament to our deep pool of talent at EFG.”
Important Disclaimer
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This release contains specific forward-looking statements that reflect EFG’s intentions, beliefs or current expectations and projections about EFG’s future results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, performance, prospects, strategies, opportunities and the industries in which it operates. Forward-looking statements involve all matters that are not historical facts. EFG has tried to identify those forward-looking statements by using the words “may”, “will”, “would”, “should”, “expect”, “intend”, “estimate”, “anticipate”, “project”, “believe”, “seek”, “plan”, “predict”, “continue” and similar expressions. Such statements are made on the basis of assumptions and expectations which, although EFG believes them to be reasonable at this time, may prove to be erroneous.
These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions and other factors that could cause EFG’s actual results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, performance, prospects or opportunities, as well as those of the markets it serves or intends to serve, to differ materially from those expressed in, or suggested by, these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause those differences include, but are not limited to: changing business or other market conditions, legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments, general economic conditions in Switzerland, the European Union and elsewhere, and EFG’s ability to respond to trends in the financial services industry. Additional factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially. In view of these uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. EFG and its subsidiaries, and their directors, officers, employees and advisors expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release any update of or revisions to any forward-looking statements in this media release and any change in EFG’s expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which these forward-looking statements are based, except as required by applicable law or regulation.
