I am the CEO and Chief Retail Officer of Erste Group, the leading financial services provider in the eastern part of the European Union. Before taking on this role in July 2024, I most recently served as CEO of Luminor Bank, which is active in the Baltic States. However, my roots at Erste Group run very deep: I’ve spent over 25 years at this Vienna-based banking group. Among the previous management positions I held over that time are CEO of Erste Bank Oesterreich, as well as Management Board member and Chief Retail Officer at Erste Group.I’ve played a key role in positioning Erste Group as a frontrunner when it comes to customer-focused offerings and processes in the retail banking sphere. I am particularly proud of George, Erste Group’s highly regarded digital banking platform, which I helped to design, launch and implement. Over 10 million Erste customers now rely on George’s innovative offerings across all digital platforms to handle their everyday (and exceptional) banking needs.I studied at the University of Vienna’s Faculty of Law and worked as an assistant professor at the institute after attaining a doctorate in 1993. I continued to be a lecturer on finance, accounting and tax law even after launching my career at Erste Bank Oesterreich in 1996.