The Swiss voice in the world since 1935
Top stories
Stay in touch with Switzerland

Scandal-hit Raiffeisen bank loses another top boss

Raiffeisen logo
The Swiss Raiffeisen banking group has been hit by scandals in recent years. © Keystone / Gaetan Bally

Guy Lachappelle, chairman of the Swiss Raiffeisen banking group, has become the latest high-ranking executive to lose his job at the company as a result of a scandal.

A tearful Lachappelle announced his resignation on Thursday evening, admitting that he had leaked confidential documents while at a previous job as boss of Basel Cantonal Bank (BCB).

Swiss media report that the offence, dating back to 2017, is linked to a now-ended extra-marital affair, during which Lachappelle allegedly sent an email to his lover containing top-secret details of BCB’s proposed digital upgrade. The Basel prosecutor’s office is now investigating the allegations.

While the offence did not take place during his time at Raiffeisen, the mistake has nevertheless made Lachappelle’s current position untenable. He will be replaced as Raiffeisen group chairmanExternal link by Pascal Gantenbein.

Vincenz affair

It is the latest in a string of scandals to hit Raiffeisen in Switzerland. The most serious case involves former CEO Pierin Vincenz, who awaits trial next year accused of fraud, embezzlement and bribery.

That scandal also resulted in his successor, Patrik Gisel, having to step down because he was too closely linked with Vincenz.

Other casualties of the Vincenz affair include former chairman Johannes Rüegg-Stürm, who resigned for failing to control his CEO’s actions. Other board members were also told to leave the banking group.

Popular Stories

News

Death of Esther Grether, owner of the Doetsch Grether Group

More

Swiss billionaire Esther Grether dies

This content was published on Esther Grether has died aged 89. Considered one of Switzerland’s leading entrepreneurs, the owner of the Basel-based Doetsch Grether Group was also a major shareholder in the Swatch Group and an art collector.

Read more: Swiss billionaire Esther Grether dies
Flag of the Swiss Wrestling Federation ceremoniously received in Mollis GL

More

Three-day Swiss wrestling festival begins

This content was published on The flag of the Swiss Wrestling Federation has been received at the start of the Swiss Wrestling and Alpine Festival in Mollis, canton Glarus.

Read more: Three-day Swiss wrestling festival begins
Fifa loses multi-million lawsuit against Blatter and Kattner

More

FIFA loses multi-million lawsuit against Blatter and Kattner

This content was published on Former FIFA officials Joseph Blatter and Markus Kattner do not have to pay back their own bonuses or the bonus totalling CHF 23 million paid to another FIFA official to FIFA. This was decided by the Zurich Labour Court.

Read more: FIFA loses multi-million lawsuit against Blatter and Kattner
How cancer makes healthy cells work for itself

More

How cancer cells makes healthy cells work for them

This content was published on Cancer cells manipulate neighbouring cells for their own purposes: a research team at ETH Zurich has discovered that they can reprogram neighbouring cells in such a way that they help the tumour to grow.

Read more: How cancer cells makes healthy cells work for them
Bathing ban for non-residents in Pruntrut JU is extended

More

Swiss pool to extend ban for non-residents

This content was published on The ban on non-residents entering the swimming pool in Porrentruy, canton Jura, expires on Sunday and would be extended until the end of the season, the mayor said.

Read more: Swiss pool to extend ban for non-residents

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative

You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!

If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR