Bank Sarasin strengthens its market position in the Basel region: Werner Rueegg to become new Head of Private Banking Basel

Werner Rueegg (45) is due to take over as head of Bank Sarasin’s business unit Private Banking Basel as of 1 January 2009. Werner Rueegg succeeds Thomas Vonaesch, who will in future concentrate on looking after selected clients based in Basel. Making sure a successor is appointed in good time for this key post at the Bank's head office makes for a smoother transition. At the same time the Bank plans to substantially expand its Private Clients business at its Basel location in the coming months as it pursues its dynamic expansion strategy for its Swiss operations, affirming its clear commitment to Basel and its surrounding region.

Werner Rueegg will join Bank Sarasin & Co. Ltd on 1 September 2008, switching from Credit Suisse, where his most recent post was as regional manager for Northwest Switzerland and head of the Private Banking unit for that region. As a highly knowledgeable banker he will be able to apply his many years of experience and expertise in supporting private clients during the further expansion of Bank Sarasin’s Private Banking operations in Basel, which he will head up as of 1 January 2009.

“With the appointment of Werner Rueegg, we are delighted to have found such a worthy successor for Thomas Vonaesch in good time,” comments Eric G. Sarasin, Head of the Private & Institutional Clients Switzerland Division. “He will exploit the potential that still exists in Northwest Switzerland for further growth and consolidate our position in the private clients business at our Basel base. His huge experience in Private Banking for Swiss and international clients, and the fact that his roots are here in Basel, make him an ideal candidate for the post. We are also very pleased that Thomas Vonaesch will continue to place his many years of experience at the service of the Bank’s key clients based in Basel.” As of 2009 Thomas Vonaesch will look after important large clients, and in this function will continue to report directly to Eric G. Sarasin.

Werner Rueegg Born in 1963; Swiss citizen; lives in Rheinfelden, Switzerland; management training with Migros Bank, advanced banking diploma and graduate of the London Business School. In 1983 Werner Rueegg changed to the Schweizerische Volksbank, where he occupied a number of posts up to 1996. During the period 1992-1995 he was its Representative Officer in Tokyo, and headed its Private Banking from 1995 to 1996. Since 1996 Werner Rueegg has been in charge of Credit Suisse Private Banking for the Northwest Switzerland Region.