Christoph Ammann appointed President of SNB Bank Council
The Swiss Federal Council has appointed Christoph Ammann as President of the Bank Council of the Swiss National Bank, effective May 1, 2027. He succeeds Barbara Janom Steiner, who is stepping down due to statutory term limits.
From cantonal politics to council chair
The Swiss Federal Council appointed Christoph Ammann during its meeting on September 2, 2026, for the remainder of the 2024-2028 term.
Ammann has served on the Bank Council since 2019 and currently holds the position of Vice President.
He previously served as a cantonal government councilor in Bern heading the Department of Economic, Energy and Environmental Affairs, following a decade in the Bern Grand Council.
Meanwhile, Marc Mächler, head of the Finance Department in Canton St. Gallen and a former UBS executive with 20 years of banking experience, was appointed as the new Vice President.
Barbara Janom Steiner steps down at the end of April 2027 after serving as President since 2019.
Supervision split between state and shareholders
The Bank Council oversees and controls the operational management of the Swiss National Bank, ensuring strict compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and administrative guidelines.
The supervisory body consists of eleven members with a split mandate structure.
Under the National Bank Act, the Federal Council directly appoints six members, including the President and Vice President, while the remaining five members are elected by the General Meeting of Shareholders.
Continuity over disruption
The selection guarantees institutional continuity rather than supervisory reform.
Elevating the sitting vice president preserves stability while adding private sector banking expertise.
For central bank governance, this transition remains a predictable and low-friction succession.