Lukas Gähwiler will step down from his position as Vice Chairman of the UBS Group AG Board of Directors at the Annual General Meeting scheduled for April 2026. His decision marks the end of a 45-year career in banking.
Gähwiler has held several senior positions at UBS, including serving on the Group Executive Board and acting as President of UBS in Switzerland from 2010 to 2016. He later became Chairman of UBS Switzerland AG and was appointed Vice Chairman of the UBS Group AG Board in 2022. During his tenure, he represented the bank in key trade associations and financial industry organizations in Switzerland. He also played a significant role as the final Chairman of Credit Suisse AG, overseeing its integration into UBS.
Colm Kelleher commented on Gähwiler’s departure: “It is with great appreciation and deep regret that I had to accept the resignation of Lukas. On behalf of all of UBS, our clients and external partners, I want to thank him for his tremendous contributions and unwavering commitment to UBS. Lukas is one of the most respected bankers in Switzerland and has been a key driving force behind the success of UBS, particularly in Switzerland. He was instrumental in preparing and executing the Credit Suisse transaction, and served as the final Chairman of Credit Suisse AG during an exceptionally demanding transition. Personally, Lukas has been my closest partner since I joined UBS. His expertise, social skills, integrity and work ethics set him apart. He will be greatly missed, and I wish him only the very best for his new endeavors.”
Sergio P. Ermotti added: “Lukas has been a trusted partner throughout my entire career at UBS. As President and later Chairman of UBS in Switzerland, he fundamentally repositioned and strengthened UBS in Switzerland, significantly contributing to the Group’s success. Over the past nearly three years, it has been a privilege to work closely with him on the successful integration of Credit Suisse. While I will miss him and his invaluable contributions, I fully understand his decision to end his outstanding career in banking and embrace new priorities.”
Markus Ronner is set to be nominated as Gähwiler's successor for Vice Chairman at the AGM 2026. Ronner is a Swiss citizen who began working at UBS in 1981 and has held global leadership roles across business, control, and audit functions over more than four decades. In 2018 he joined the Group Executive Board as Group Chief Compliance and Governance Officer with responsibility for compliance oversight as well as financial crime prevention and operational risk control at group level; he also chaired UBS Switzerland AG between 2022-2023.
Kelleher said about Ronner: “I congratulate Markus on his nomination. His extensive and unique experience in financial services will provide the Board with valuable insights. In his role as Vice Chairman, he will represent UBS across several key industry bodies. I am looking forward to working closely with him upon his election.”
Ermotti stated: “Markus’s foundational work over the past 15 years helped shape the firm’s legal structure and governance. Since joining the Group Executive Board in 2018 as Group Chief Compliance and Governance Officer, Markus has navigated through a demanding non-financial risk environment, based on industry-leading compliance, financial crime prevention and operational risk management standards and established a robust resolvability framework for UBS. I thank Markus for his outstanding contributions and look forward to continuing to work with him in his new role.”
UBS noted that further details regarding Ronner’s succession would be communicated separately.