Erste Group at a glance
Founded in 1819 as the first Austrian savings bank, Erste Group went public in 1997 with a strategy to expand its business into Central Europe (CEE). Since then Erste Group has grown through numerous acquisitions and organic growth to the largest financial services providers in Central Europe.
- The number of customers has increased from 600,000 to approx. 23.1 million in Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Romania, Hungary, Croatia and Serbia
- Erste Group's key business is the retail business, covering the entire spectrum from lending, deposit and investment products to current accounts and credit cards
- Besides the traditional strength in serving private individuals, Erste Group's core activities include advisory services and support for corporate clients in financing, investment and access to international capital markets, public sector funding and interbank market operations
Our markets
Our strategy
Board of directors
Peter Bosek
CEO and Chief Retail Officer
Appointed until 30 June 2027
Personal information:
Year of birth: 1968
Nationality: Austrian
Career:
Since July 2024: Erste Group Bank AG, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Retail Officer
2021 – 2024: Luminor Bank AS., Chief Executive Officer
2019 – 2020: Erste Bank Oesterreich, Chief Executive Officer
2015 – 2020: Erste Group Bank AG, Chief Retail Officer
2007 – 2016: Erste Bank Oesterreich, Member of the Management Board
1996 – 2007: Erste Bank Oesterreich, various management positions
1996 – 2005: University of Vienna, Lecturer at the Faculty of Law
1993 – 1996: University of Vienna, Assistant Professor in the Department of Constitutional and Administrative Law
Education:
Studied law at the University of Vienna, attaining Master and Doctorate degrees
Responsible for:
Group Audit
Group Brand & Innovation
Group Communications & Corporate Affairs
Group Investor Relations
Group People & Culture
Group Retail Development, Financial Health
Group Secretariat and Legal
Group Strategy
Group Transformation Office
Employees' Council
Memberships in statutory supervisory boards and similar functions:
Česká spořitelna, a.s. (chairman)
Erste Bank der oesterreichischen Sparkassen AG (deputy chairman)
Santander Bank Polska S.A. (chairman)
Ingo Bleier
Chief Corporates and Markets Officer
Appointed until 30 June 2026
Personal information:
Year of birth: 1970
Nationality: Austrian
Career:
Since July 2019: Erste Group Bank AG, Member of the Management Board
2015 – June 2019: Erste Group Bank AG, Head of Group Corporates
2010 – 2014: Erste Group Bank AG, Head of Investment Banking
2009: Erste Group Bank AG, Deputy Head of Investment Banking
2008: Erste Group Bank AG, Head of Corporate and Acquisition Finance
2006 – 2007: UniCredit Markets and Investment Banking (Vienna), Head of Loan Syndication
2002 – 2006: HVB Group (Vienna), Head of Loan Syndication in International Finance Department
2000 – 2002: Bank Austria Creditanstalt (Vienna), Head of Telecom Finance in Project Finance Department
1998 – 1999: Banca Creditanstalt (Romania), Head of Corporate Banking
1994 – 1997: Creditanstalt, International Project and Acquisition Finance, as well as CA Romania project
Education:
Studied Law at the University of Vienna, graduating with a Master of Laws degree in 1993
Studied Commercial Sciences at the Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU Wien), graduating with a Master’s degree in 1994
Responsible for:
Group Corporates
Group Commercial Real Estate
Group Investment Management
Group Markets
Group Corporate Steering and Business Development
Group Research
Memberships in statutory supervisory boards and similar functions:
Erste Bank Akcionarsko Društvo, Novi Sad (chairman)
Erste & Steiermärkische Bank d.d. (member)
Steiermärkische Bank und Sparkassen Aktiengesellschaft (member)
Stefan Dörfler
CFO
Appointed until 31 December 2027
Personal information:
Year of birth: 1971
Nationality: Austrian
Career:
Since July 2019: Erste Group Bank AG, Member of the Management Board
2022 – June 2024: Erste Bank der oesterreichischen Sparkassen AG, Member of the Management Board
2016 – June 2019: Erste Bank Oesterreich, Chairman of the Management Board
2009 – 2016: Erste Group Bank AG, Head of Group Markets / Capital Markets
2007 – 2009: Erste Group Bank AG, Head of GCM Sales & Equity Markets
1999 – 2007: Erste Bank AG, Management positions in Capital Markets Trading & Sales
1997 – 1998: Erste Bank AG, Interest Rate Derivatives Trader
1995 – 1997: GiroCredit Bank AG, Interest Rate Derivatives Trader
Education:
Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien), graduating with “Diplom-Ingenieur” degree 1995
Continuous participation in professional development programs and executive trainings
Responsible for:
Group Accounting
Group Balance Sheet Management
Group Corporate Development
Group Data Management
Group Performance Management
Group Services
Memberships in statutory supervisory boards and similar functions:
Banca Comercială Română S.A (deputy chairman)
Česká spořitelna, a.s. (member)
Santander Bank Polska S.A. (deputy chairman)
Sparkassen-Haftungs GmbH (member)
Wiener Börse AG (member)
Alexandra Habeler-Drabek
CRO
Appointed until 31 December 2027
Personal information:
Year of birth: 1970
Nationality: Austrian
Career:
Since July 2019: Erste Group Bank AG, Member of the Management Board and CRO
2021 – July 2024: Erste Bank der oesterreichischen Sparkassen AG, Member of the Management Board and CRO
2017 – June 2019: Slovenská sporiteľňa, Member of the Management Board and CRO
2014 – 2016: Erste Group Bank AG, Head of Group Enterprise-wide Risk Management
2012 – 2014: Erste Bank Oesterreich, Head of Operative Risk Management
2010 – 2011: Erste Bank Oesterreich, Head of Workout & Restructuring
1998 – 2010: Bank Austria Creditanstalt / Unicredit Bank Austria, management positions in Credit Risk/Restructuring & Workout
1995 – 1998: Creditanstalt, Restructuring & Workout manager
Education:
Studied Commercial Sciences at the Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU Wien), graduating with a Master’s degree in 1993
Trainee programme at Creditanstalt
Responsible for:
Enterprise wide & Operational Risk Management
Group Liquidity and Market Risk Management
Group Compliance
Credit Risk Methods
Retail Risk Management
Credit Risk Portfolio
Corporate Risk Management
Cyber Risk Management
Memberships in statutory supervisory boards and similar functions:
Erste Bank Hungary Zrt. (member)
Santander Bank Polska S.A. (member)
Slovenská sporiteľňa (chairwoman)
Oesterreichische Kontrollbank Aktiengesellschaft (2. vice chairwoman)
Maurizio Poletto
Chief Operating Officer and Chief Platform Officer
Appointed until 31 December 2027
Personal information:
Year of birth: 1973
Nationality: Italian
Career:
Since July 2024: Erste Group Bank AG, Member of the Management Board, Chief Operating Officer
Since 2021: Erste Group Bank AG, Member of the Management Board, Chief Platform Officer
2012 – 2020: Erste Group Bank AG; Managing Director & Head of Design of George Labs (previously BeeOne)
2003 – 2020: Collettiva Design; founder/Creative Director
1996 – 2003: Nofrontiere Design; Designer/Art Director
Education:
1992 – 1996: Studied design at Istituto Superiore per le Industrie Artistiche (ISIA)
Responsible for:
Platform Architecture
Platform UI/UX
Strategic Projects
Platform Governance
Group COO Governance and Steering
CIO Group Functions
Banking Services
Group Security
Supervisory Board positions and positions in comparable functions:
Česká spořitelna, a. s. (member)
Erste Digital GmbH (chairman)
Santander Bank Polska S.A. (member)
Supervisory Board
Gottfried Haber
Chairman of the Supervisory Board
First elected: 2025
Term expires: 2029
Personal information:
Year of birth: 1972
Nationality: Austrian
Career:
Since 2012: University Professor, University for Continuing Education Krems
2019 – 2024: Vice Governor, Austrian National Bank
2014 – 2019: Vice Dean, University for Continuing Education Krems
2019 – 2024: Alternate Governor, Governing Council and General Council of the European Central Bank
2019 – 2024: Alternate Governor, International Monetary Fund
2019 – 2024: Member of the SSM Supervisory Board
2002 – 2019: Managing Partner, CBSC Unternehmensberatung GmbH
2002 – 2004: Research fellow, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Economic Policy Analysis in collaboration with the World Bank
2000 – 2019: Lecturer on credit management, risk management and strategy
2000 – 2004: University lecturer (Department of Banking), Vienna University of Economics and Business
1997 – 2007: University Assistant (Department of Economics), University Klagenfurt
Education:
Habilitation in Economics at the University of Klagenfurt awarded 2006
Diploma in Business administration at the Vienna University of Economics and Business awarded 2004
Doctoral studies in social and economic sciences (Economics) at the Vienna University of Economics and Business awarded 2000
Diploma in Economics at the Vienna University of Economics and Business awarded 1996
Elisabeth Krainer-Senger-Weiss
Vice Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board
First elected: 2014
Term expires: 2027
Personal information:
Year of birth: 1972
Nationality: Austrian
Career:
Since 2010: Co-founder of Zirkel Familienunternehmen exklusiv – Generationen im Gespräch
Since 2004: Attorney-at-law, Vienna
2001 – 2004: Associate, Freshfields Bruckhauser Deringer, Wien
1998 – 1999: Associate and Head of London Office, Steel Hector & Davis MNP, Miami, FL and London, GB
1997 – 1998: Associate, Kavanagh Maloney & Osnato LLP, New York, NY
Education:
Austrian notaries’ supplementary examination
Governance Excellence/Program for Supervisory Board Members, WU Executive Academy, Vienna
Admission to the New York State Bar and the Austrian Bar
Legal studies at Fordham University, New York, NY, degree awarded 1997 (LL.M. cum laude)
Legal science at the Universities of Vienna and Paris, degree awarded 1996 (LL.M.) degree awarded 2001 (LL.D.)
Christine Catasta
2nd Vice Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board
First elected: 2022
Term expires: 2030
Personal information:
Year of birth: 1958
Nationality: Austrian
Career:
Since 2022: Member of the Management Board, Kattus Privatstiftung
2020 – 2024: Member of the Management Board, Österreichische Luftverkehrs-Privatstiftung
2021 – 2022: Chief Executive Officer of ÖBAG Österreichische Beteiligungs AG (Vienna)
2020 – 2021: Head of Investment Management of ÖBAG Österreichische Beteiligungs AG (Vienna)
2018 – 2020: CEO PwC Austria and member PwC Europe Leadership
1998 – 2020: Head of Management Advisory PwC and member PwC Europe Advisory Leadership
1982 – 1998: Various positions at PwC
Education:
Since 1990: Chartered accountant
Since 1986: Tax consultant
1980 – 1982: Doctoral studies in commerce at the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration, graduating with a doctorate
1980: Graduation in commercial sciences, Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration
Alois Flatz
Member of the Supervisory Board
First elected: 2022
Term expires: 2029
Personal information:
Year of birth: 1966
Nationality: Austrian
Career:
Since 2015: Business angel and growth investor
2021 – 2022: Member of the Board of Directors, IMT Asset Management AG, Vaduz
2015 – 2020: Chairman of the Board of Directors, Fision, Co-Founder, Zurich
2015 – 2018: Senior Advisor, Generation Investment Management, London
2006 – 2015: Member of the Board, Zouk Capital, London
2006 – 2012: Co-Founder, Member of the Board of Directors (2006-2012), Chairman (2009-2012), FormaFutura, Zurich
1996 – 2004: Member of the Board, SAM Sustainable Asset Management, Zurich
Education:
1992 – 1994: Doctoral studies in business administration at the University of St. Gallen, graduating with a doctorate
1990 – 1991: Ecole des Haute Etudes Commerciale (HEC), Paris
1985 – 1990: Degree in Business Administration at the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration with Master's degree
Caroline Kuhnert
Member of the Supervisory Board
First elected: 2024
Term expires: 2027
Personal Information:
Year of birth: 1963
Nationality: Austria/Switzerland
Career:
2020 – 2023: Member of Global Wealth Management Executive Committee & Head of Central, Eastern Europe, Greece & Israel, UBS AG, Zurich
2017 – 2019: Head of Ultra High Net Worth / Global Family Office EMEA & Latam, UBS AG, Zurich
2016 - 2017: Co-Head of UNHW/GFO EMEA & Latam, UBS AG, Zurich
2013 – 2016: Head of UHNW/GFO Emerging Markets, UBS AG, Zurich
2009 – 2013: Regional Head of CEEC & Turkey, UBS AG, Zurich
2005 – 2009: Head of London International, UBS AG, London
1997 – 2005: Fixed Income Origination CEEMEA & Israel Investment Banking, UBS AG, London
1995 – 1997: Head of Structured Trade Finance, UniCredit, London
1993 – 1995: Head of Corporate Banking, UniCredit, Moscow
1990 – 1993: Head of Representative Office, UniCredit, Moscow
Education:
2021, 2022: Various Training Programmes at IMD Lausanne (High Performance Boards, Leading Digital Transformation)
2011: Certified Wealth Management Advisor, Zurich
1987 – 1988: Research Grant towards PhD studies, Plekhanov University of Economics, Moscow
1986 – 1989: PhD Studies in Political Science, University of Vienna
1984 – 1989: Studies in Business Administration, Vienna University of Economics and Business (not completed)
1983 – 1986: Studies in Political Sciences, University of Vienna
1982 – 1983: Certificat d’Études Politiques, Sciences Po, Paris
Roeland Louwhoff
Member of the Supervisory Board
First elected: 2026
Term expires: 2029
Personal information:
Year of birth: 1965
Nationality: Dutch
Career:
Since 2015: Special Advisor, First Ukrainian International Bank
2021 – 2024: Chief Transformation, Technology and Operations Officer, Standard Chartered Bank
2014 – 2021: Chief Operations, Information and Transformation Officer, ING Group
2004 – 2014: CEO BT Operate, BT Group
2001 – 2004: Chief Operations Officer, Client Logic Cooperation
Education:
1984 – 1990: Doctorandus in Economics (Masters equivalent), Universität Groningen
Jernej Omahen
Member of the Supervisory Board
First elected: 2026
Term expires: 2029
Personal information:
Year of birth: 1977
Nationality: Slovenia and United Kingdom
Career:
Since 2023: Senior Advisor and Member of the Senior Advisory Boards, Oliver Wyman & Co
Since 2023: Senior Advisor, Milesian Limited
2009 – 2022: Head of European Financial Institutions Group and Partner Managing Director, Goldman Sachs International
2009 – 2010: Co-Head European Banks and Managing Director, Goldman Sachs International
2005 – 2009: Executive Director, Goldman Sachs International
2004 – 2005: Associate, Goldman Sachs International
2003 – 2009: Covering Analyst, Goldman Sachs International
2001 – 2003: Junior Business Analyst, Goldman Sachs International
Education:
1995 - 2000: Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Education, University of Ljubljana
Friedrich Santner
Member of the Supervisory Board
First elected: 2020
Term expires: 2027
Personal information:
Year of birth: 1960
Nationality: Austrian
Career:
Since 2003: Sole managing director
Since 1997: Managing director
1986: Joined Anton Paar GmbH, Graz
1985 – 1986: Educator, Episcopal Gymnasium, Graz
Education:
1989: Marketing education, London
1987 – 1988: Course in automation technology, WIFI Graz
1986 – 1987: Training as an academically certified export merchant, University of Graz
1981 – 1984: Special training in psychology (Gestalttherapie), Salzburg
1984: Dr. phil, Karl Franzens University of Graz
1978 – 1984: Study of psychology and educational science
Michael Schuster
Member of the Supervisory Board
First elected: 2021
Term expires: 2028
Personal information:
Year of birth: 1980
Nationality: Austrian
Career:
Since 2011: Founder and General Partner Speedinvest, Vienna
2011 – 2016: Managing Director and Partner, Semanticlabs, Vienna
2006 – 2014: Lecturer at the University of Applied Sciences Vienna, Vienna
2006 – 2011: Managing Director System One, Vienna
2000 – 2006: Knallgrau New Media Solutions GmbH, Vienna
Education:
Business informatics at the University of Technology Vienna, degree awarded 2006 (Mag. rer. soc. oec.)
Business administration at the University of Economics and Business administration Vienna, degree awarded 2004 (Mag. rer. soc. oec.)
Gabriele Semmelrock-Werzer
Member of the Supervisory Board
First elected: 2025
Term expires: 2029
Personal information:
Year of birth: 1958
Nationality: Austrian
Career:
2021 – 2023: President, Österreichischer Sparkassenverband
2011 – 2023: Member and Spokesperson of the Management Board, Kärntner Sparkasse AG
1999 – 2010: Head of Group Investor Relations, Erste Group Bank AG
1998 – 1999: Investor Relations Manager, Erste Group Bank AG
1995 – 1998: Various positions in Retail and Corporate Business, Erste Group Bank AG
1993 – 1995: Relationship Manager, Private Banking, Crèdit Lyonnais (Wien)
1989 – 1993: Relationship Manager, Private Banking, Chase Manhattan Bank (Wien)
Education:
TOP Executive Program (Erste Group) at the Haas School of Business (US, Berkely) awarded 2005
Study of commercial sciences at the Vienna University of Economics and Business, 1981 – 1986
Concession for the hotel and restaurant industry awarded 1985
Translation and interpreting studies at the University of Vienna, 1976 – 1978
Dorota Snarska-Kuman
Member of the Supervisory Board
First elected: 2026
Term expires: 2029
Personal information:
Year of birth: 1970
Nationality: Poland
Career:
2012 – 2024: Senior Partner - Audit & Assurance, Deloitte Audyt
2005 – 2012: Partner – financial institutions, Ernst & Young Polska
2002 – 2005: Senior Manager – financial institutions, Ernst & Young Polska
1993 – 2002: Assistant to Senior Manager, Arthur Andersen
Education:
1996 – 2001: Diploma of certified public accountant, Polish Chamber of Certified Accountants
1988 – 1993: Magistra of Economics and Social Sciences, Warsaw School of Economics
Christiane Tusek
Member of the Supervisory Board
First elected: 2023
Term expires: 2030
Personal information:
Year of birth: 1975
Nationality: Austrian
Career:
Since 2019: Vice Rector for Finance and Entrepreneurship, Johannes Kepler Universität Linz
2015 – 2021: Member of the Supervisory Board, ASTOR Privatstiftung
2004 – 2019: Head of Accounting, PIN-Privatstiftung/Neunteufel GmbH/ASTOR Privatstiftung and its subsidiaries
2004 – 2008: Head of Group Accountant/Power of Attorney, Neuson Kramer Baumaschinen AG (now Wacker Neuson Beteiligungs-GmbH)
1998 – 2004: Audit manager with Power of Attorney (since 2003), KPMG Alpen Treuhand GmbH
Education:
Since 2003: Tax consultant
2003 – 2004: Certification as lecturer for the training course for Certified IFRS Accountant, LIMAK Austrian Business School
1994 – 1998: Studies in Business Administration with a focus on accounting and finance, Johannes Kepler University Linz
Delegated by the employees’ council:
Barbara Pichler
Member of the Supervisory Board
Employee Representative
Chairwoman of the Employees‘ Council
First delegated: 2008
Delegation expires: until further notice
Personal information:
Year of birth: 1969
Nationality: Austrian
Career:
Since 2015: Chairwoman of the Employees‘ Council, Erste Group Bank AG
2008 – 2015: Vice-Chairwoman of the Employees' Council, Erste Group Bank AG
2006 – 2018: Procurement Services GmbH
1999 – 2006: BMG Warenbeschaffung GmbH
1997 – 1999: Erste Bank der oesterreichischen Sparkassen AG
1992 – 1997: GiroCredit Bank
1989 – 1992: Austrian Credit Institute
Education:
Employees' Representatives Academy, magna cum laude 2012
Vienna Business School
Karin Zeisel
Member of the Supervisory Board
Employee Representative
Vice-Chairwoman of the Employees‘ Council
First delegated: 2007
Delegation expires: until further notice
Personal information:
Year of birth: 1961
Nationality: Austrian
Career:
Since 11/2013: Operative Head of Erste Time Bank
Since 01/2012: Jurywoman, Court of Labour and Social Law, Vienna
Since 11/2010: Member of the Federal Executive Board of ÖGB (Austrian Federation of Trade Unions), Deputy Head of Trade Union GPA – djp (Federation of Private Employees)
Since 06/2003: Vice-Chairwoman of the Employees' Council, Erste Group Bank AG
Since 08/1979: Erste Group Bank AG
Education:
Lay judge training, Court of Labour and Social Law, Vienna
Slovakian Labour and Social Law, Central European Trade Union College
Certificate for Gender Mainstreaming und Diversity, AK Vienna Leadership program training, BTS Plus
Basic and advanced training for employee representatives, GPA-DJP/ÖGB/AKA-Levels
Martin Grießer
Member of the Supervisory Board
Employee Representative
Vice Chairman of the Employees' Council
First delegated: 2019
Delegation expires: until further notice
Personal information:
Year of birth: 1969
Nationality: Austrian
Career:
Since 2019: Vice-Chairman of the Employees' Council, Erste Group Bank AG
Since 2006: Erste Group Bank AG, Non-Financial Risk Expert
1996 – 2006: Software Daten Service GmbH, Test Management and Regional Sales Manager
Education:
Studies in Business Informatics at the Technical University and University of Vienna
ERM Development Program (Erste Group)
Markus Haag
Member of the Supervisory Board
Employee Representative
First delegated: 2010
Delegation expires: until further notice
Personal information:
Year of birth: 1980
Nationality: Austrian
Career:
Since 2015: Team Lead Data & Systems Desk, Erste Group Bank AG, Vienna
2012 – 2015: Senior P&L Analyst, Erste Group Bank AG, Vienna
2003 – 2012: P&L Analyst, Erste Group Bank AG, Vienna
Education:
University of Applied Sciences degree programme in Finance, Accounting and Taxation (FIRST) with a Master's degree (FH)
Regina Haberhauer
Member of the Supervisory Board
Employee Representative
First delegated: 2015
Delegation expires: until further notice
Personal information:
Year of birth: 1965
Nationality: Austrian
Career:
Since 2010: Product Management Securities Products, Erste Group Bank AG
2003 – 2010: Marketing & Event Management, ERSTE-SPARINVEST Kapitalanlagegesellschaft m.b.H.
2000 – 2003: Production Assistant PR & Events, GESCO Medien
1998 – 2000: Sales Assistant, s Bausparkasse
1997 – 1998: Marketing Assistant, Mautner Markhof AG
1996 – 1997: Assistant of the Management Board, Michaela Frey
1992 – 1996: Marketing and PR-Assistant / Junior Product Manager, Unilever Österreich
1985 – 1992: Assistant of the Director of Purchase / Marketing-Assistant and Controller, Gerngross Kaufhaus AG
Education:
European Economy and Business Management Course at the University (EWUF Wien), degree awarded 2002 (Magistra (FH))
Advertising academy, degree 1990
Vienna University of economics and business, 1984 inscription, focus business studies
Vienna Business School, Matura 1984
Jakob Hofstädter
Member of the Supervisory Board
Employee Representative
First delegated: 2024
Delegation expires: until further notice
Personal information:
Year of birth: 1962
Nationality: Austrian
Career:
Since 2007: various functions/product management lending (since 2016), Erste Group Bank AG
1997 – 2006: Erste Bank Oesterreich
1985 – 1997: Girozentrale/GiroCredit
Education:
Vienna Business School, Matura 1985