2026-09-02 - Federal Council appoints Christoph Ammann as new President of SNB Bank Council

Marc Mächler appointed Vice President of Bank Council

At its meeting of 2 September 2026, the Federal Council appointed Christoph Ammann as President of the Bank Council of the Swiss National Bank. He will succeed Barbara Janom Steiner with effect from 1 May 2027, and will serve for the remainder of the 2024-2028 term of office. Barbara Janom Steiner has been a Member of the Bank Council since 2015, and its President since 2019. She will step down at the end of April 2027 owing to the statutory limit on the maximum term of office.

Christoph Ammann, a former member of the Cantonal Government and Head of the Department of Economic Affairs, Energy and Environment of the Canton of Berne, has been a member of the SNB's Bank Council since 2019. Before serving in the Cantonal Government, he spent ten years in the Cantonal Parliament, prior to which he was President of the Municipality of Meiringen. A graduate in German studies, he brings profound expertise in financial and economic policy gained during his extensive political career. Through his work in the Bank Council, latterly as its Vice President, he is also well acquainted with the areas relevant for the SNB.

In Barbara Janom Steiner's place, the Federal Council has elected Marc Mächler to the SNB Bank Council for the remainder of the 2024-2028 term of office, appointing him as Vice President. Marc Mächler is a member of the Cantonal Government and Head of the Finance Department of the Canton of St Gallen. An economics graduate, prior to serving in the Cantonal Government he was a member of the St Gallen Cantonal Parliament and held a range of positions during a 20-year career with UBS.