Erste Bank CEO Gerda Holzinger-Burgstaller to also exercise Chief Retail Officer role

The Supervisory Board of Erste Bank der oesterreichischen Sparkassen AG (“Erste Bank”) has appointed Gerda Holzinger-Burgstaller, in addition to her role as Erste Bank’s CEO and COO, to serve as the bank’s Chief Retail Officer as of 1 January 2022. In this role, she is replacing Thomas Schaufler, who left the banking group in October. The reorganization and the combination of Gerda Holzinger-Burgstaller's responsibility for both the Retail and the COO areas should make it even easier for Erste Bank to respond to the rapidly changing banking business and to drive forward digitalization and sustainability strategies.

Stefan Dörfler will serve as Chief Financial Officer of Erste Bank in parallel to his CFO role at Erste Group, and Willi Cernko’s term as Deputy CEO and Chief Corporate Officer at Erste Bank has been be extended until 31 December 2024. Alexandra Habeler-Drabek will remain in her dual role as Chief Risk Officer for both Erste Group and Erste Bank.

Gerda Holzinger-Burgstaller: „I am very pleased to be able to assume responsibility for our retail customers. Erste Bank is one of the most modern and successful retail banks in Austria and the success of Erste Bank as a whole is inextricably linked to the development of our retail business. I will do everything in my power to ensure that the bank continues to focus on our customers’ financial health. I know what a great responsibility this is and I could not ask for a better team to assist me in this task. The future of providing consulting services lies in being able to offer a unique combination of digital and personal advice for our customers - this is how we will ensure that we continue to satisfy customer needs at the highest level and can expand our market leadership in modern and sustainable retail banking.”

Willibald Cernko’s role as Deputy CEO and Corporate Banking Board Member of Erste Bank will be extended until 31 December 2024. He will continue to build on Erste Bank's strong competitive position and implement a growth strategy built on sustainability and industry expertise.

In addition, the Supervisory Board appointed Stefan Dörfler as the new CFO of Erste Bank; he will assume this responsibility as of 1 January 2022 in parallel to his role as CFO of Erste Group. Alexandra Habeler-Drabek's dual role as CRO of Erste Group and CRO of Erste Bank has also been confirmed.

Friedrich Roedler, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Erste Group, welcomes the new division of responsibilities and composition of Erste Bank’s Management Board: "Erste Bank can look back with pride on its successes in retail and corporate banking. The bank has proven that is capable of improving its market position even in times of change and uncertainty. But we are also always keen to look to the future. Therefore, despite very good internal candidates, we have abandoned our original plan to look for a new member for the Management Board and have instead opted for a new setup in the management team of Erste Bank. The full market focus of the two EBOe board members Gerda Holzinger-Burgstaller and Willibald Cernko, supported by a very lean and efficient setup in the back office with Alexandra Habeler-Drabek and Stefan Dörfler performing dual functions, will help to move Erste Bank Oesterreich forward."

Bernd Spalt, CEO of Erste Group: "I am convinced that the management board team of Erste Bank in this composition is the right one to position Erste Bank as a market player with a sustainable and strong distribution profile and to improve the financial health of customers in Austria. Over the past years, Gerda Holzinger-Burgstaller has always excellently mastered the various functions she has held. This is demonstrated, amongst other things, by the excellent results and figures that Erste Bank has achieved. I am delighted that Gerda, as a very experienced manager, is now taking on responsibility for private customers in Austria in addition to her CEO function."