Flynt 500

A prime example of this is the unseemly back and forth surrounding a banking license for Flynt, meant to be Switzerland's first fintech bank. Early this year, chair Jasmin Schmuki told finews.com that Finma had granted the license; a short time, her remarks were disproven. It wasn't until summer that Flynt finally clinched its coveted banking license from Bern.

Taken in isolation, these missteps could be forgiveable or be written off as the eccentric behavior of a gifted entrepreneur. In sum, they cross the line of corporate governance and checks and balances for a publicly-listed firm. At 40, Schoch is at the end of his career in Swiss finance – a return seems highly unlikely.