The Board of Directors of the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA has appointed Thomas Hirschi as the new head of the Banks division. The former head of the Asset Management division will take up the role on 1 February 2022. He succeeds Jan Blöchliger in this position, who is leaving FINMA of his own volition. Philip Hinsen will assume the leadership of the Asset Management division on an interim basis.
FINMA’s Board of Directors has appointed Thomas Hirschi as the new head of the Banks division with effect from 1 February 2022. Thomas Hirschi has led the Asset Management division since 1 January 2020 and is a member of FINMA’s Executive Board. The 46-year-old was previously responsible for the supervision of banks and insurance companies at the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) for just over four years. Between 2004 and 2015 Thomas Hirschi worked in Swiss banking supervision, both at FINMA and at its predecessor authority, the Swiss Federal Banking Commission. Among other things, from 2009 he led the supervision of a large bank, from 2011 the supervision of retail, commercial and trading banks, and from 2014 the Risk Management section within FINMA’s Banks division (see CV and photo). Thomas Hirschi is a Swiss citizen.
Philip Hinsen, who has worked for FINMA since 2010, will assume the leadership of the Asset Management division. The 36-year-old lawyer possesses in-depth knowledge and has led the Authorisation section within the Asset Management division since 2014. His interim leadership of the division will ensure continuity.
CEO and Chair of the Board of Directors thank Jan Blöchliger
Jan Blöchliger is leaving FINMA at his own request to pursue a new professional challenge. The 44-year-old lawyer joined FINMA in May 2011. After performing central legal functions, acting as FINMA’s Secretary General and leading the supervision of a large bank, in 2018 he was appointed head of the Banks division and a member of the Executive Board. He has also represented FINMA on the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) since 2020. In 2021 Jan Blöchliger served as FINMA’s CEO for six months on an interim basis (see CV and photo).
FINMA’s CEO, Urban Angehrn, says: “I thank Jan Blöchliger on behalf of the Executive Board for everything he has contributed to FINMA’s success over the years. In particular, I would like to extend my personal thanks to him for his active support in helping me learn the ropes over the last few months. I very much regret his decision to leave FINMA and wish him every success in the future. At the same time we are very pleased that in Thomas Hirschi we have been able to appoint an internal successor with national and international experience in banking supervision, who will ensure continuity.”
Chair of the Board of Directors, Marlene Amstad, adds: “During his time at FINMA, Jan Blöchliger has always held key positions, most recently as head of the Banks division and as interim CEO. That speaks for itself and shows the great appreciation he has earned through his work for our authority and his contribution to the continuous development of banking supervision. On behalf of the Board of Directors I would like to offer my sincerest thanks to Jan Blöchliger for his many years of valuable work.” On Thomas Hirschi the Chair of the Board of Directors adds: “Thomas Hirschi is very well equipped to take on this highly responsible role. He will successfully continue in the present direction in banking supervision and, among other things, place new emphases on digitalisation and sustainability.”
The Banks division employs around 110 people and is responsible for authorising and supervising banks and securities firms. The Authorisation and Supervision sections are supported by cross-divisional functions specialising in risk management, along with supervisory tools.
Around 70 people are currently employed in the Asset Management division. It is responsible for authorising and supervising asset managers, fund management companies and custodian banks, as well as for approving collective investment products (funds). Since the Financial Institutions Act (FinIA) came into force, the division has also been responsible for licensing portfolio managers and trustees. |
Contact
Tobias Lux, Spokesperson
Tel. +41 31 327 91 71
tobias.lux@finma.ch
Vinzenz Mathys, Spokesperson
Tel. +41 31 327 19 77
vinzenz.mathys@finma.ch
