The relatively unknown accountant Robert Swaak starts today with his new role as CEO of ABN Amro, out of his study. Swaak on introductions with clients and staff members: 'I will have to do it out from behind my computer screen for now.'
Today he succeeds Van Dijkhuizen during the general members assembly. Swaak's appointment comes at a difficult time for ABN Amro. Even before the corona crisis the bank was facing plenty of challenges: waning stock prices, an investigation by the public persecutor regarding failing money laundering policies and a revenue model that is hollowed out as a result of low interest rates.
On the question whether this raised his doubts whether to take the job or not: 'Not at all. I wanted my next job to be socially relevant and complex.'
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Read full article here (Dutch).
Robert Swaak graduated from Erasmus School of Economics in 1988.