Aargauische Kantonalbank appoints CEO

Change at the helm of Aargauische Kantonalbank (AKB): Dieter Widmer is stepping down as Chairman of the Executive Board “at his own request” and will leave the bank, according to a statement issued on Thursday. Thomas Schöb will take over as his successor on June 1, 2027.

Widmer worked at AKB for more than 30 years, including 11 years on the Executive Board, nine of them as its Chairman.

Schöb, who holds a degree in physics from ETH Zurich, will remain CEO of Baloise Bank until the end of April 2027 and is a member of Helvetia’s Swiss Executive Management. Schöb has only been heading Baloise Bank since early 2025, but has worked for Baloise Insurance since 2002.

“Developing large organisational units”

According to AKB, Schöb has gained governance experience through his roles on boards of directors and foundations, including as chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee of a Belgian company and as a board member of the Association of Swiss Regional Banks. The designated successor grew up in the canton and lives with his family in the Aargau municipality of Staufen, where he has also chaired the municipal financial committee since 2018.

AKB Chairman of the Board of Directors Kurt Bobst said: “Thomas Schöb has many years of experience in successfully managing and strategically developing large organisational units.” Bobst also paid tribute to Widmer’s contribution: “With a clear focus on AKB’s strengths, he further strengthened its position as a secure and sustainable financial institution in its market area and played a decisive role in shaping its strategic and operational development.”