A Geneva-based private bank adds another politician, who made some unfavorable headlines in the past, to its ranks

Bank Reyl, a private bank in Geneva, counts former Federal councilor Ruth Metzler-Arnold as a member of the board of directors and is adding another female politician to its ranks. Céline Amaudruz, of the Geneva Swiss People's Party (SVP) and a member of Switzerland's national council, joined the Swiss-Italian Group this month as a senior relationship manager, according to her LinkedIn profile.

A spokesperson for the company also confirmed the personnel move, first reported by the Geneva-based financial portal «Finance Corner» (in French). «Reyl Intesa Sanpaolo is delighted to welcome Céline Amdaudruz as Senior Relationship Manager, and to benefit from her knowledge and extensive network with entrepreneurs in Switzerland,» he added.

Amaudruz previously worked for Julius Baer and UBS and holds various board of directors mandates, including vice president of the Geneva-based transport company TPG. She has also been a member of the National Council for the Swiss People's Party (SVP) for over ten years.

Violence, Drugs, and Filth

The 43-year-old caused a national stir at least twice. After moving from Geneva to Zurich in 2016, she was very critical of Geneva in the «Sonntagsblick» magazine in comparing the two cities, saying at the time: «Violence, drugs, filth – fortunately, Zurich is less affected by all of this than Geneva.»

Amaudruz made headlines again the same year after the French-language Swiss daily «Le Temps» reported that Amaudruz had been stopped driving under the influence of alcohol during a nighttime police check. Initially refusing a breathalyzer test, she had to go to the police station, subsequently seeking assistance by phone from her party colleague and Federal Councilor Guy Parmelin, who instructed her to calm down and follow police instructions.