Willibald Cernko will become CEO of Erste Group on July 1, 2022. The current corporate customer board member of Erste Bank Oesterreich was appointed today (Wednesday) by the supervisory board of Erste Group in an extraordinary meeting to succeed CEO Bernd Spalt, who surprisingly announced a month ago that he would not renew his contract. Cernko (65) will also take on the role of Chief Retail Officer at Erste Group.
“I am very pleased that in Willi Cernko we have found a customer-oriented, experienced and well-connected CEO for Erste Group,” said the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Erste Group, Friedrich Rödler, according to the broadcast. “I’m taking over the chairmanship of an excellently managed and well-positioned banking group and I’m very happy about this new task,” Cernko is quoted as saying.
Cernko has been a board member for corporate customers at Erste Bank Oesterreich since 2019. From 2017 to 2019 he was a member of the management board of Erste Group. Before moving to Erste, he was CEO of UniCredit Bank Austria and worked in many different management positions at Bank Austria, HypoVereinsbank and UniCredit Group for over 20 years. Cernko’s current term of office remains unaffected and runs until December 31, 2024, the statement said. His position as board member for corporate customers at Erste Bank Oesterreich will be filled. (apa)