Long-standing Credit Suisse banker John Haefelfinger is set to take the reigns of Basellandschaflichen Kantonalbank, or BLKB, at the beginning of next year, the Swiss cantonal bank said on Tuesday.
John Haefelfinger resigned from Credit Suisse last week, after nearly 20 years with the Zurich-based bank, as finews.ch reported exclusively. On Tuesday, BLKB said Haefelfinger will join from January 1 to replace outgoing Chief Executive Beat Oberlin, who plans to retire in April after concluding the current financial year.
Local Roots
„I’m pleased that the bank council has chosen John Haefelfinger as president of the managing board from January 1,“ said Elisabeth Schirmer-Mosset, president of the bank council. „In doing so, we are ensuring operative stability and continuity at the bank.“
The 44-year-old Haefelfinger is a Basel area native who absolved a banking apprenticeship at a Basel regional bank before moving on to Swiss Bank Corp., which is now UBS.
Credit Suisse Career
He then moved to Credit Suisse, where he began focusing on specialty financing and accumulating experience working abroad. He was promoted to deputy head of ship finance, which has a notable presence in Basel, and began his management career.
Nearly 20 years on, Haefelfinger is head of Corporate and Specialty Lending at Credit Suisse, a key revenue generator for the bank with roughly 250 staff. Haefelfinger is a citizen of Gelterkinden and Basel, father of two and lives in Basel.
Visionary Oberlin
BLKB’s council also thanked Oberlin, who had been with the bank for the past 12 years. BLKB has grown continually and sustainably and is today one of the most secure and efficient banks in Switzerland, it said, adding that the bank is positioned well strategically and operationally thanks to Oberlin’s vision.
