Heinrich Henckel, CEO of LGT Bank Switzerland, explains in an interview with finews.com what a private bank has in common with electric motorsport.
Heinrich Henckel, the first Formula E race to be held in Zurich is just around the corner. Are you looking forward to it?
Yes, very much so. Some time ago, I had the opportunity to visit ABT in Kempten and that piqued my interest in Formula E. I’m really looking forward to the race in Zurich and will be watching it live together with clients and employees.
The road to securing Zurich as the host city for an E-Prix was a long one. Did you expect this positive outcome?
This event is definitely a big step for Switzerland – there has been no circuit racing here for over 60 years. And it’s a good step, in my opinion. The race in Zurich will shift everyone’s focus to electromobility for a few weeks.
So do you believe in e-mobility?
Whether or not this technology is the future of individual mobility is still to be seen. Much more important, though, is that we start changing the way we think. The age of fossil energy sources is coming to a close. They may last for another one or two generations, but we have to start taking responsibility today and begin to look for alternatives.
Can Formula E contribute to that?
I feel it can. Formula E is a fantastic platform for the promotion and development of electromobility. And it proves that, as a power source, electrical energy is capable of delivering high performance to cars. Who would have thought ten years ago that e-car races, featuring racecars with engines that are almost silent, would get so much attention?
Is that why LGT is sponsoring a Formula E team?
Yes, we are convinced that through our commitment, we can support the further development of innovative, sustainable technologies.
Can you also contribute to making the world more sustainable as a bank?
Absolutely. Generating good returns and having a positive impact on the environment and society are compatible concepts.
How so?
For example, we don’t only use typical financial data to assess companies that we invest in or work with. We also incorporate their governance principles and their conduct toward employees, the environment and society in our analyses. And we support our clients in making their portfolios more sustainable.
Are private banking and motorsport a good fit?
Definitely. Being successful in motorsport takes concentration, determination and commitment. These values play an important role in our corporate culture. What’s more is that the Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler team shares the same «winning spirit» as we do at LGT.
Heinrich Henckel has been CEO of LGT Bank (Switzerland) since April 2013. He studied law at the University of Fribourg, where he also completed his doctorate. He then worked for several years as a lawyer in Hong Kong, Indonesia and Switzerland. Following this, he worked at the Swiss stock exchange in Zurich and London, from 2001 until 2008 its CEO, before joining LGT in 2009.
