Julius Baer Announces Senior Leadership Changes, Names New COO
Julius Baer Group has announced a series of senior leadership appointments aimed at strengthening its transformation programme and execution of long-term strategy, including the appointment of a new Chief Operating Officer and the creation of a new Group Communications function.
The Swiss wealth manager said Jean Nabaa will join the Executive Board as Chief Operating Officer with effect from 13 April 2026, subject to final regulatory approval. He will succeed Nic Dreckmann, who will step down from his roles as COO and Deputy CEO on the same date and leave the group by the summer of 2026 following an orderly transition.
Nabaa brings more than 20 years of international experience in financial services with a strong focus on wealth management. He joins Julius Baer from HSBC, where he most recently served as COO for International Wealth and Premier Banking as well as COO for Global Private Banking. His previous roles include senior operational positions at Standard Chartered Bank and Bank of America Merrill Lynch. He began his career at McKinsey & Company in Switzerland.
A Swiss national, Nabaa holds an MBA from INSEAD and a Master of Science in Economics from the University of Lausanne.
Chief Executive Officer Stefan Bollinger said Nabaa’s appointment comes at a pivotal time for the group and will play a key role in driving operational excellence, optimising end-to-end processes, and advancing technology and innovation in support of client experience and strategic goals.
Departure of Nic Dreckmann
Dreckmann’s departure concludes a career of more than two decades at Julius Baer. Bollinger thanked him for his leadership and long-standing contribution, noting that he had played a significant role in shaping the group’s development over many years.
New Group Communications Function Created
Separately, Julius Baer announced the creation of a new Group Communications function. Cindy Leggett-Flynn will join the group in January 2026 to lead the function and will report directly to the CEO.
Leggett-Flynn has held senior communications roles across global financial institutions. Most recently, she served as Global Head of Communications at Credit Suisse, leading the function during its acquisition by UBS. She previously held the role of Chief Communications Officer at AIG and spent more than 16 years at Brunswick Group, including as Partner and Managing Partner for Greater China.
A US national, she holds a Master of Arts in Land Economy from the University of Cambridge. Bollinger said her international experience and background in strategic communications would add valuable strength to the group during its ongoing transformation.