Societe Generale has announced the appointment of William Connelly as its future Chairman of the Board of Directors. Connelly's tenure will begin following the General Meeting on May 27, 2026, contingent upon his re-election as a Director in the General Meeting on May 20, 2025. He will take over from Lorenzo Bini Smaghi, who has served as Chairman since 2015 and will complete his third term.
The decision emerged from a selection process led by the Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee, with the support of an independent consultant, at the end of 2023.
Connelly, who has been on Societe Generale’s Board since 2017, has chaired the Risk Committee since 2019. He is expected to maintain these roles until the 2026 General Meeting.
In a statement, Lorenzo Bini Smaghi remarked, “The choice of William Connelly as my successor confirms Societe Generale's commitment to the highest standards of governance, both in terms of method and substance. It ensures the independence of the role as well as its continuity, while bringing the highest level of expertise in the international banking and financial sector, along with experience in managing large companies, particularly in the technology sector.”
Connelly, a company director, has also been involved with several organizations, including serving as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Amadeus IT Group and Aegon until mid-2025. He held a directorship at Singular Bank from 2019 to 2023. His career includes a decade at Chase Manhattan Bank, employment at Baring Brothers, and various executive roles within ING Group NV.
With a degree in Economics from Georgetown University, Connelly, a French citizen, brings experience from his background in corporate finance, financial markets, real estate, and lending.