New head of Vontobel in Germany On 1st April 2010, Frank Wieser (47) became Speaker of the Management Board of Bank Vontobel Europe AG, headquartered in Munich, and the new Head of Private Banking Germany. He has extensive experience in private banking and asset management in Germany, and thanks to his profound knowledge of the market will boost the continued expansion of the Vontobel Group in Germany.
Frank Wieser, what aspects of your new position do you find particularly appealing? The German banking market is experiencing a major upheaval – many traditional banks are for sale or have recently found new owners. Many clients are confused and looking for a new, reliable banking relationship. This situation creates great opportunities for the Vontobel Group, which my team and I intend to take advantage of. How do you view the current discussions concerning Swiss banking secrecy?
I’m very ambivalent in my observations, because what you have here is the collision of two different legal systems. Ultimately, Germany and Switzerland are linked by their close and neighbourly relations. For example, the newly elected German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle chose Switzerland for his first ever state visit in November 2009. I believe that speaks for itself. Where will you put the emphasis in your work? What can the clients of Bank Vontobel Europe AG expect from you? We will focus more on private clients with an entrepreneurial background, because I am convinced that with our integrated business model, we create real value. We want to be a reliable and solid partner to our clients, one that brings a healthy understanding of risk and sustained earnings to the table. Is your work based on a particular management principle? My focus is on people. I maintain a culture of open dialogue, and from my colleagues I expect an elevated drive to perform. This includes the willingness to go the extra mile.
Standing, from left: Andrea Göbel, Alexandra Riedl, Irmingard Jaschke, Tanya Özcerkes, Gertrud Voggeneder, Patrick Siegert, Werner Rau, Roland Eller, Bernhard Rathgeber, Gisela Huybrecht, Alois K. Ebner, Antje Starke, Christine Wondra, Werner Schmid, Manuela Comouth, Barbara Assböck. Sitting, from left: Helga Beck, Marel Weideneder, Michael Wittmann. Not pictured: Rupert Bader, Berthold Bartsch, Andreas Lippold