Lázaro Campos to step down; Gottfreid Leibbrandt new CEO of SWIFT

It appears that every time a CEO of SWIFT speaks at the Financial Services Club, they leave SWIFT!

Lenny Schrank, the then CEO, spoke at the Club in 2006 and left a few months later; then Lazaro Campos spoke at the Club in March and guess what, he’s off.

Wonder when we’ll invite Gottfried Leibbrandt, the new man, to speak?

Lázaro Campos announces he will step down as CEO

Gottfried Leibbrandt confirmed as successor

Brussels, 21 May 2012 – SWIFT CEO Lázaro Campos has notified the Board of his intention to leave the company. After 25 years with the company, the last five of which were successful years as CEO, it is his intention to pursue opportunities outside SWIFT. Under his leadership, SWIFT embarked on an ambitious growth and transformational strategy (SWIFT2015), almost doubling volumes, maintaining excellent operational performance while successfully reducing costs by 30%, and prices by 50%.

"SWIFT is an extraordinary company with great people and I have enjoyed my years here immensely. I am proud of what SWIFT means to the industry and what we have achieved during my tenure as CEO. But after 25 years with one organization, it is the right time for me to move on and make an impact elsewhere," says Campos, who is one year short of his 50th birthday.

Campos informed the board of his decision in March, allowing ample time for the Board to examine all options and conduct an orderly succession process. He will continue to lead the company until 30^th June and the management team will continue to fulfil its current duties. The Board has nominated Gottfried Leibbrandt, currently Head of Marketing, to replace Campos as CEO effective July 1st.  Prior to joining SWIFT Leibbrandt was a partner at McKinsey & Company. He holds a MBA from Stanford and a PhD from Maastricht.

 “SWIFT has become a stronger, nimbler, and more customer centric company under Lázaro's leadership. The Board joins me in thanking Lázaro for his dedication and service and we wish him all the best in his future endeavours,” says SWIFT Chairman Yawar Shah.  “SWIFT has an exceptionally strong management team, which has enabled the Board to appoint an internal candidate.  Gottfried Leibbrandt has been part of the SWIFT executive team for five years and he is very well qualified to take over the baton. I am confident he will ensure SWIFT will continue to improve on its tradition of excellence and innovation in support of the global financial community.”

 “I feel very proud to be nominated by the Board as Lázaro’s successor,” said Leibbrandt. “The company has never been in better shape and I feel very privileged to be able to lead SWIFT forward at a time of great opportunity.”