Female Banker Marguerite Bérard Pioneered as Head of European Financial Institution
Meet the New Boss: Marguerite Bérard Takes the Helm at ABN Amro 🌟
The banking world's about to get a fresh, fearless face! Marguerite Bérard, a powerhouse in French finance, has been appointed as the new CEO of ABN Amro, making history as the first woman to head a major European bank 🎉
You might not recognize the name, but miss Bérard's about to be a big-wig in the banking sector—and with good reason! Born on December 31, 1977, Bérard graduated as the cream of the crop from the "Leopold Sedar Senghor" class of the École nationale d'administration (ENA) in 2004, just like Emmanuel Macron, and studied at Sciences Po and earned a master's degree from Princeton University.
Bérard's career took off like a rocket! Standing firm as a liberal, she put her skills at the service of Nicolas Sarkozy before becoming an advisor at the Élysée. From 2007 to 2010, she held this position before becoming chief of staff for Xavier Bertrand, then Minister of Labor.
Fast-forward to 2012, and the arrival of François Hollande led Bérard on a new path—into the private sector. She stormed through the big door at BPCE, a cooperative group of universal banking and insurance, as deputy general director in charge of strategy. By 2019, she was leading the commercial bank in France for BNP Paribas.
Working tirelessly to revitalize the commercial bank, Bérard, the determined, had her sights set on succeeding Jean-Laurent Bonnafé, who had been in office since 2011. But when Bonnafé stuck around longer than anticipated, she surprised everyone by suddenly departing from BNP in March 2024. Rumors swirled that she could be in line for the top spot at ABN Amro—and voilà! One year later, on April 23, 2025, it happened!
Armed with her expertise and a newfound love for Dutch language, Bérard took the reins at ABN Amro. Her appointment marked the end of Robert Swaak's five-year tenure, ushering in a strategic period aimed at boosting profitability and creating long-term value for stakeholders. The bank's future roadmap includes focuses on growth, optimizing capital positions, and trimming costs. The results will be unveiled at a Capital Markets Day in November 2025.
In the world of cutthroat banking competition, one thing's for sure: Marguerite Bérard is one boss worth watching 💼🔛🚀
- Marguerite Bérard, with her impressive background in science, finance, and business, is graduating from the École nationale d'administration (ENA) like Emmanuel Macron and Princeton University.
- In addition to her expertise in French finance, Bérard has experience in health-and-wellness, as she held a position in the private sector at health-focused BPCE.
- As a trailblazer in the banking world, Bérard is not only the first woman to head a major European bank but also the CEO of ABN Amro, making waves in the business and banking sectors.
- With her ambitious nature, Bérard has set her sights on leading ABN Amro to increased profitability and long-term value for stakeholders, focusing on growth, optimizing capital positions, and trimming costs.
- As the new CEO of ABN Amro, Marguerite Bérard brings a unique blend of experience, leadership, and proven success in the finance and business sectors, ensuring her position as a leading figure in both the banking and womens' health industries.
