SWIFT CEO Lzaro Campos will leave SWIFT after 25 years with the company to pursue opportunities outside the company. Gottfried Leibbrandt, currently head of marketing, will replace him.
During his five years as CEO, SWIFT embarked on an ambitious growth and transformational strategy (SWIFT2015), almost doubling volumes and successfully reducing costs by 30%, and prices by 50%.
Campos informed the board of his decision in March, whereupon the board examined all options and conducted an orderly succession process, said SWIFT. He will continue to lead the company until June 30 and the management team will continue to fulfill its current duties.
“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.
SWIFT has become a stronger, nimbler, and more customer centric company under Lzaro’s leadership. The Board joins me in thanking Lzaro 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.
Leibbrant, who was a partner at McKinsey & Company prior to joining SWIFT, said:
I feel very proud to be nominated by the Board as Lzaros 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.
(JDC)