SWIFT CEO Announces Resignation

SWIFT CEO Lazaro Campos announces resignation; Gottfried Leibbrandt nominated by Board as his successor.

After five years in the role, during which he launched an aggressive growth plan, SWIFT CEO Lazaro Campos has notified the interbank messaging network's Board of his intention to leave the company. After 25 years with the company it is Campos' intention to pursue opportunities outside of SWIFT (Brussels), according to the organization. Under Campos' leadership, SWIFT embarked on SWIFT2015 -- a growth and transformational strategy that has nearly doubled volumes, maintained strong operational performance, and successfully reduced costs by 30 percent and prices by 50 percent.

The Board has nominated Gottfried Leibbrandt, currently SWIFT's head of marketing, to replace Campos as CEO effective July 1. Prior to joining SWIFT in 2005 Leibbrandt was a partner at McKinsey & Company. He has served in his current role since 2007.

Campos informed the board of his decision in March. He will continue to lead the company until June 30. The SWIFT management team will continue to fulfill its current duties. "SWIFT is an extraordinary company with great people and I have enjoyed my years here immensely. I am proud of what SWIFT means to the industry and what we have achieved during my tenure as CEO. But after 25 years with one organization, it is the right time for me to move on and make an impact elsewhere," said Campos in a SWIFT press release.

"SWIFT has become a stronger, nimbler, and more customer centric company under Lazaro's leadership," said SWIFT Chairman Yawar Shah in the press release. "SWIFT has an exceptionally strong management team, which has enabled the Board to appoint an internal candidate. Gottfried Leibbrandt has been part of the SWIFT executive team for five years and he is very well qualified to take over the baton. I am confident he will ensure SWIFT will continue to improve on its tradition of excellence and innovation in support of the global financial community."

"I feel very proud to be nominated by the Board as Lazaro's successor," said Leibbrandt, in the statement. "The company has never been in better shape and I feel very privileged to be able to lead SWIFT forward at a time of great opportunity."h

Katherine Burger is Editorial Director of Bank Systems & Technology and Insurance & Technology, members of UBM TechWeb's InformationWeek Financial Services. She assumed leadership of Bank Systems & Technology in 2003 and of Insurance & Technology in 1991. In addition to ... View Full Bio