The former auditor (PwC) and strategy consultant (McKinsey) with a doctorate in economics from the University of St. Gallen, was passed over twice for the CEO role at UBS and Credit Suisse before being appointed CEO at Credit Suisse last year.

Koerner worked at Credit Suisse from 1998 to 2008. When he lost out to Brady Dougan for the CEO role there, he moved on to UBS. As UBS's Chief Operating Officer, he kept an eye on costs and oversaw 25,000 employees.

Then in 2011, after being unwilling to act as UBS’ interim CEO, Koerner took over Credit Suisse’s crisis-ridden asset management division. Sergio Ermotti subsequently became interim CEO at UBS moving on to become the bank’s actual CEO later on.

In 2022, Koerner was finally named CEO of Credit Suisse Group, before the bank collapsed in March this year.

Turnaround Specialist

Koerner didn’t make himself known for his communication skills during this period, but it has to be said that previous executives and board directors were the ones who committed capital mistakes. Koerner’s ability to restructure Credit Suisse was often questioned, as was his ability to provide a vision or strategy for the bank.

In the past, he did however prove himself successful in returning Switzerland's second-largest bank to profitability as Oswald Grueblel’s «turnaround specialist.»  Now, he is again taking on the role as someone’s «right hand man.» As he proved under Gruebel, this is a role he is likely to succeed in.