Precious metals dealer Degussa announced on Tuesday that CEO Christian Rauch and CFO Mark Sommer are leaving the company with immediate effect. No reasons were provided. The company stated that the decision had been taken «by mutual agreement» at a meeting of the board of directors. German business newspaper Handelsblatt was the first to report on the upheaval at the top of Degussa.

Alexander Betz, formerly Chief Digitalisation Officer at real estate investment company Patrizia, will become the new CEO. The position of CFO will be assumed on an interim basis by board member Tino Porzel. Owner August François von Finck stated that Degussa «stands on a strong foundation and is better positioned than ever.» The company even spoke of record revenues for 2025.

Industry Speculates About the Reasons

The industry is now speculating about the reasons behind the simultaneous departures. Rauch took over the company in 2023 and set it on a new course following the exit of former managing director Markus Krall. Under his leadership, Degussa achieved the best operating result in its history in 2025, according to the company, with revenues of around 3 billion francs (finews reported).

At the same time, Degussa is searching for a Chief Revenue Officer to drive its growth and internationalisation strategy. The reshuffle at the top comes at a time when the booming gold market is providing strong tailwinds for the company.

Private Banker for Switzerland

Switzerland has also seen a leadership change. As finews has learned, Sandro Eichenberger recently assumed the role of CEO of the Swiss business. At the same time, he serves as Regional Director for Southern Europe.

Eichenberger brings more than two decades of experience in the financial sector, primarily in private banking. Most recently, he worked at UBS as Executive Director and Desk Head. Prior to that, he spent around 17 years at Credit Suisse, where he established international desks and led teams covering the Nordic and Iberian markets. His academic credentials include an Executive MBA from the University of Bern and the University of Rochester, as well as a qualification from the Swiss Finance Institute.

Signal to Private Banks and Asset Managers

Within the industry, the appointment of a seasoned private banker to lead the Swiss operation is seen as a clear signal. Degussa is likely seeking to expand its B2B business with private banks, asset managers, and family offices. The company operates locations in Zurich and Geneva.

Eichenberger succeeds Rauch, who had assumed interim responsibility for the Swiss business following the departure of Andreas Hablützel at the end of 2024.