Ref. 7280

Chief Technology Officer (CTO) – Member of the Executive Management

The Swiss banking landscape is undergoing profound structural change. Consolidation is accelerating, margins remain under pressure and client expectations continue to rise. Institutions that successfully combine superior client experience with structurally lower operating costs will be best positioned to succeed.

At the same time, Switzerland's entrepreneurial economy remains underserved. While more than 99% of Swiss companies are SMEs, there is currently no institution that combines banking, occupational pensions, wealth management, asset management, custody and capital formation services within a truly integrated financial platform.

Our client intends to build exactly that.

Backed by a highly entrepreneurial private equity owner, the organisation is evolving from a successful pension and asset management platform into an integrated entrepreneurial bank. Beyond traditional financial services, the long-term ambition includes ecosystem partnerships, white-labelled solutions and platform-based business models.

Technology is therefore one of the central strategic pillars of the future business model.

Benefiting from a recently implemented core banking platform and relatively limited legacy constraints, the institution offers a rare opportunity to shape the technology foundations of a business in full transformation.

The Chief Technology Officer will play a central role in this journey by defining how technology can become a sustainable source of competitive advantage.

Your benefit in talking to us:

  • Salary comparison, current salary to market salary
  • Understanding your career options
  • Identification of development and promotion potential
  • 65% of candidates will be making a career move within the next 12 to 24 months

Would you like more information? Book a 30-minute video call. Select your preferred date from one of the two calendars.

Calendar 1 Calendar 2

This role offers a rare opportunity to shape the technology architecture of a future-oriented financial institution.

 

Many of the most important decisions are still ahead, including platform architecture, sourcing strategy, ecosystem design, automation principles and the future role of technology within the business model.

 

The ownership structure encourages entrepreneurial thinking, rapid decision-making and long-term value creation. Technology is viewed not merely as an efficiency lever but as a strategic capability.

 

In a confidential discussion, we will provide deeper insights into the ownership structure, governance model and long-term platform vision behind this opportunity.

 

Why this opportunity is attractive for you

Industry Knowledge & Access

  • You have successfully led technology, architecture or transformation initiatives within financial services, technology-enabled businesses or comparable complex environments.

  • You understand how business models, operating models and technology architectures interact. You have made fundamental architecture decisions, managed vendor ecosystems and delivered large-scale transformation initiatives under demanding stakeholder, regulatory and financial constraints.

  • Most importantly, you understand how ambitious technology objectives can be achieved within focused organisations where prioritisation, pragmatism and execution matter as much as vision.

  • Ideally, you have contributed to platform-enabled growth initiatives, ecosystem strategies or technology-driven business model innovation.

 

Challenge

  • The organisation is simultaneously evolving its strategy, business model and operating model.

  • The challenge is to create a technology architecture capable of supporting an integrated entrepreneurial banking platform while enabling future ecosystem partnerships, white-labelled offerings, B2B2C propositions and platform-based services.

  • A central objective is the creation of a highly automated operating environment that maximises productivity across front-, mid- and back-office activities. Automation is not viewed as optimisation but as a fundamental design principle.

  • Beyond enabling the transformation, the role is expected to identify how emerging technologies, platform models and automation capabilities can create entirely new strategic opportunities for the institution.

  • Success will be measured by the extent to which technology improves scalability, efficiency, client experience and strategic flexibility.  

Broad Scope & Strong Ecosystem

  • The platform combines occupational pension solutions, institutional asset management, private banking, corporate banking and custody capabilities within a single regulated environment.

  • The institution maintains relationships with approximately 10,000 employers and around 100,000 insured individuals, creating a highly differentiated foundation for future growth.

  • A modern core banking platform has recently been implemented, while a broader technology transformation is underway. Future initiatives include digital client platforms, ecosystem integrations, partner enablement and expanded automation capabilities.

  • The organisation operates with the speed and entrepreneurial mindset of a growth company rather than a traditional financial institution.

 

Topics & Capabilities

  • Technology Strategy & Business Architecture: Translate strategic ambitions into a coherent technology architecture and target operating model.
  • Platform Architecture & Ecosystem Design: Define architectural principles, integration models and technology standards that support future platform capabilities.
  • Automation & Productivity Excellence: Drive front-to-back automation and technology-enabled productivity improvements across the entire value chain.
  • Technology-Enabled Business Innovation: Enable platform business models, ecosystem partnerships, white-labelled solutions and future platform-as-a-service capabilities.
  • Transformation, Vendor & Delivery Leadership: Lead strategic technology programmes, sourcing decisions and external delivery partners with strong governance and commercial discipline.

 

Role & Responsibilities

  • Define and continuously evolve the institution's technology architecture and target state.
  • Translate strategic priorities into executable technology roadmaps and transformation initiatives.
  • Build and orchestrate a high-performing ecosystem of technology providers, implementation partners and specialist advisors.
  • Act as a trusted advisor to executive leadership and shareholders on technology, architecture and transformation topics.
  • Develop an organisation capable of supporting an increasingly automated, scalable and innovation-driven business model. 

 

Why is our client compelling for you?

  • Structural opportunity: Help build a differentiated financial platform focused on entrepreneurs, business owners and SMEs.
  • Rare mandate: One of the few technology leadership roles combining architecture, business transformation and platform innovation.
  • Unique positioning: Banking, pensions, asset management and future platform capabilities integrated within a single ecosystem.
  • Technology as a value driver: Technology sits at the centre of future competitiveness and value creation.
  • Direct impact: Significant decision-making authority with direct access to executive leadership and shareholders.
  • Location: Central Switzerland and Zurich — at the centre of Switzerland's financial and entrepreneurial ecosystem.

 

What do clients and partners say about our client?

  • A trusted Swiss financial institution with deep roots in the pension, banking and asset management sectors.
  • Recognised for combining institutional-grade infrastructure and regulatory credibility with entrepreneurial agility.
  • Valued for pragmatic decision-making, responsiveness and solution-oriented collaboration.
  • Increasingly recognised as a bridge between Switzerland's institutional financial infrastructure and its entrepreneurial ecosystem. 

Application & Contact

Marc Geiger
Marc Geiger
Partner
wirz phone +41 44 515 02 60 wirz email marc.geiger@w-gruppe.com
Book a meeting
Stephan Peyer
Stephan Peyer
Partner
wirz phone +41 44 515 02 60 wirz email stephan.peyer@w-gruppe.com
Book a meeting
*Recruitment process

In an initial interview, we will give you a detailed insight into the role, the company, the corporate culture and your development opportunities.

After an initial exchange with the partner (headhunter), you will receive further information about the role and our client's expectations. If you are interested, please send us your documents. Wirz & Partners will draw up a longlist, which will be discussed with the client. From this longlist, 4-6 candidates are selected for the shortlist.

Time to feedback: 2-3 weeks

If you make it onto the shortlist, it's on to the next round. In the interview with Wirz & Partners, we get to know you professionally and personally. You will receive further information about the client, the offering, the services, the team and the KPIs. Based on all the interviews and documents, we prepare a complete dossier about you for the client, including an executive summary. These documents form the basis for the structured interview process with the client. We prepare you for the interview.

Duration until the interview with the client: Up to two weeks.

The first meeting with the customer is about getting to know each other as equals and experiencing the gut feeling, the people and the corporate culture. This interview takes place in person at the customer's premises and lasts an average of one hour.

The second interview is about deepening professional expertise and management topics. In this exchange, you get to know the team, the strategy and the operational goals. 

You will then receive a salary proposal and an overview of the entire offer.

Duration until feedback: 1-2 weeks

Following the final meeting, a de-briefing takes place with you and the customer.

We support you in the contract negotiations and clarify further details. The contract is drawn up and we accompany the on-boarding at the customer's premises.

Duration until feedback: Up to one week

*We describe the standard process, which may vary depending on the customer.

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