Raiffeisen Switzerland is pressing ahead with a personnel reshuffle at the highest leadership level: the Board of Directors has nominated Basil Heeb as its new chairman. At the same time, Yvan Gaillard, Simon Gfeller and Philipp Kronenberg are set to join the body. The elections are scheduled for the General Meeting on June 19, 2026, in Lugano and remain subject to approval by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (Finma), the institution announced on Friday.

Basil Heeb most recently served as CEO of Basler Kantonalbank. Earlier stages of his career include positions at private bank Notenstein La Roche, Bank Wegelin and the consulting firm McKinsey. In addition, Raiffeisen noted that Heeb brings strategic leadership experience as former chairman of the Board of Directors at Bank Cler.

Key for the Group’s Further Development

Heeb is set to succeed Thomas A. Müller, who had decided not to stand for re-election; finews reported on this.

«We are very pleased to propose Basil Heeb, an accomplished leader with strong strategic expertise and a deep understanding of the Swiss banking landscape, for election,» said Thomas A. Müller, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Raiffeisen Switzerland. «His entrepreneurial vision and analytical capabilities are crucial for the further development of the group.»

Additional Wealth Management Expertise

From left: Yvan Gaillard, Simon Gfeller, Philipp Kronenberg. (Image: zVg)

In addition to the chairmanship, the board as a whole is also to be strengthened in a targeted manner. With Yvan Gaillard, former CEO of Banque Syz and a long-standing senior executive at Pictet Group, Raiffeisen is adding expertise in wealth management and in the operational leadership of international banking business.

Simon Gfeller is an entrepreneur and chairman of the Board of Directors of Raiffeisenbank Seeland. He previously held senior roles at Landi Switzerland, among others.

With Philipp Kronenberg (56), CEO of BBV Software Services, Raiffeisen is bringing in expertise in IT and digitalisation.

The three nominees will replace Olivier Roussy, who is stepping down after twelve years due to age, as well as Thomas Rauber and Andrej Golob, who are not standing for re-election.