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Swiss Federal Council Appoints Aline Darbellay to FINMA’s Board of Directors

On 20 December 2024, the Swiss Federal Council announced the appointment of Aline Darbellay as a member of the Board of Directors of the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA). Aline Darbellay is an expert in financial market law and will succeed Susan Emmenegger, who is stepping down at the end of the year. Aline Darbellay’s term will commence on 1 January 2025 and run through to the end of 2027.

Susan Emmenegger, the outgoing member, has been appointed Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Bern, after her resignation from FINMA effective 31 December 2024. Marlene Amstad, Chair of FINMA’s Board, expressed her gratitude stating: “I am delighted that in Aline Darbellay we are gaining a recognised expert in financial market law with an understanding of economic interrelationships and strategic issues for our Board of Directors. I would like to thank Susan Emmenegger for her great commitment to FINMA’s Board of Directors, which she has enriched with her proven expertise and experience.”

Aline Darbellay is a Professor of Law at the University of Zurich and a authority in banking and financial market law. A native of French-speaking Switzerland, she earned her law degree in Lausanne and pursued her doctorate at the University of Zurich. Her professional journey includes a stint in the United States, where she earned an LL.M. and was admitted to the New York State Bar. Darbellay has held roles at Baker & McKenzie, the District Court of Horgen, and the University of Zurich. In 2016, she was appointed Assistant Professor at the University of Geneva, specialising in banking and financial market law. Since 2023, she has held a chair in commercial and business law at the University of Zurich, cementing her reputation as a leading voice in her field.

From 1 January 2025, the FINMA Board of Directors will include nine members under the leadership of Chair Marlene Amstad and Vice-Chair Martin Suter. The Board, mandated by the Financial Market Supervision Act, is responsible for FINMA’s strategic management, including setting objectives, issuing regulatory guidance, and overseeing critical organisational matters. The Board also appoints FINMA’s Chief Executive Officer, subject to Federal Council approval.

Darbellay’s appointment takes effect 12 days after the Federal Council’s announcement.

(Source: https://www.finma.ch/en/news/2024/12/20241220-mm-vr/)