The Bern-based regional bank EEK will appoint Thomas Kipfer as its new CEO effective January 2027, succeeding Daniel Pfanner, who will retire after 23 years in the role.
Kipfer, currently head of financing and a member of EEK’s executive committee, will become the eighth director in the bank’s 206-year history. He joined EEK in November 2015 and brings more than 25 years of financial sector leadership experience. His career includes roles at regional banks, a major bank, and the Bernese Cantonal Bank (BEKB).
The leadership transition will also involve internal restructuring. Thomas Pelozzi will assume Kipfer’s current position as head of financing and join the executive committee. Mark Frehner, who oversees asset management, will additionally serve as deputy to the new CEO.
Board President Manuel Ruchti emphasized the continuity Kipfer’s appointment represents, noting the bank’s tradition of long-serving leadership. Ruchti also expressed gratitude for Pfanner’s decades of service.
Kipfer, 54, holds a bank apprenticeship, advanced banking certification, and a master’s degree in CRM. His stated goal is to maintain EEK’s reputation as one of Switzerland’s safest banks and a leading financial institution in the Bern region.
