Hansruedi Köng’s primary task since taking on the role of Chairman of Neue Bank in April (as reported by finews.ch, article in German) has been to find a new operational head.

The decision has now been made: The new CEO at Neue Bank will be Roman Pfranger. He will assume his duties at the end of January after a temporary 15-month leadership gap following the departure of Marcel Lüchinger in August 2023, as published by finews.ch at the time (article in German).

An Established Team

In his new role, Pfranger can rely on a well-established and experienced team. According to a press release, «the composition of the Executive Board will remain unchanged» aside from the new CEO appointment.

The current leadership consists of Thomas Hemmerle (Wealth Management), Claudia Jehle-Ospelt (Finance & Services), and Stefan Tschopp (Legal & Compliance), who have collectively managed Neue Bank since August 2023.

6,8 Billion Swiss Francs in Assets

With client assets totaling 6,8 billion francs, Neue Bank is the fourth-largest financial institution in the Principality of Liechtenstein. The bank’s equity capital exceeds 140 million francs, ensuring a solid Tier 1 capital ratio of 27,9 percent as of June 30, 2024.

The bank is also doing well operationally, attracting 196,8 million francs in net new assets during the first half of the year.

Ambitious Outlook

This leadership appointment also signals future ambitions. According to Chairman of the Board of Directors, Köng—who successfully led PostFinance for ten years before transitioning to Vaduz—Pfranger, «with his strong values and high level of expertise,» is an excellent fit for the bank and for «our future plans.»

Pfranger himself aims to build on the bank’s unique strengths alongside the board of directors, the executive team, and all employees to «launch the next growth phases.»

Over 15 Years in Vaduz

Pfranger had already demonstrated his ability to drive growth at his previous employer, Kaiser Partner Privatbank, also based in Vaduz, where he worked since 2008,spending ten years in leadership positions. For the past five years, he was a member of the executive committee, serving as Head of Private Banking & Investment Solutions. With over 15 years of experience in Vaduz, Pfranger is a well-known figure in the local financial sector.

Pfranger is recognized as one of the key architects behind Kaiser Partner’s recent private banking successes. The bank has recently attracted attention from finews.com due to its very attractive growth in profits and assets under management. It has been received positive marks from industry reviews such as the Handelsblatt Elite Report (PDF in German) and Fuchs|Richter Prüfinstanz (also in German).

Raised in the Rhine Valley

Pfranger has also left his mark on the development of new investment solutions, including private market investments.

The 37-year-old, who grew up in the Rhine Valley region of Graubünden, is well-connected both locally and beyond. He is a CFA Charterholder and holds an MBA from IE Business School in Madrid, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Liechtenstein.

From Isone to Vaduz

After completing his apprenticeship as a commercial clerk, Pfranger initially joined Bank Julius Baer in Zurich. He completed his military service with the Swiss Grenadiers in Isone.

Pfranger is married and has a son, born a few months ago.