FINMA executive board member Johanna Preisig is to leave the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA after almost ten years working for the Swiss financial watchdog.
Currently head of the Strategic Services division she said in a statement that she "has decided to embark on a new career outside FINMA".
Urban Angehrn, FINMA's CEO is to step down from his position at the end of this month, the watchdog had said in a statement on 6 September. Angehrn was "instrumental" in the crisis around Credit Suisse and its sale to UBS in March 2023, which the regulator described as "the biggest challenge in FINMA's history". He cited the "high and permanent stress" that came with the role, which he said had led to health consequences.
Preisig has led the Strategic Services division since March 2020. This division houses the Regulation, International Affairs, Legal & Compliance and the General Secretariat and Communications sections.
The 47-year-old joined FINMA in 2014 as a lawyer specialising in the solvency and liquidity of banks. In 2016 she took on a managerial role within the Recovery and Resolution division and made particular progress on the recovery and resolution plans of systemically important banks.
Angehrn said: "I thank Johanna Preisig for her many years of valuable work for FINMA. Johanna has led the Strategic Services division prudently and with enormous commitment in extremely challenging times. She has achieved important and high-quality results for FINMA in all areas. We very much regret Johanna's decision to leave FINMA and wish her every success in the future."
Preisig will continue to be available to FINMA for an orderly handover of all business. FINMA further said it will announce her successor in due course.
