The new head has more than 30 years’ experience in the financial sector, and knowledge of the regional market and the needs of its clientele.

Reto Calonder has been appointed to take over Julius Baer's St Gallen branch and the Eastern Switzerland region, effective 1 December 2024. He will succeed Michael Eicher, who has decided to take on a new challenge outside the bank.

Claude Lüthi, head of Aargau/Solothurn and Foundations at Julius Baer, will manage the St Gallen branch ad interim until Calonder arrives.

Calonder has more than 30 years of experience in the financial sector. From 1991 to date, with an interruption of two years, he has held various positions at UBS and Schweizerische Bankgesellschaft in Eastern Switzerland, primarily in wealth management. For the past 10 years he has been head of ultra-high net worth, executive and entrepreneurs and desk head for lawyers, trustees and notaries as well as deputy head of wealth management Eastern Switzerland at UBS in St Gallen.

Calonder is a Swiss-certified banking expert with a Federal Diploma from the Academy of St Gallen. He is also  a wealth management advisor certified by the Swiss Association for Quality.

“He has an excellent track record and many years of management experience as well as in-depth knowledge of the regional market and the needs of our local clientele,” Patrick Prinz, head of the Swiss market at Julius Baer, said.