Walter B. Kielholz

Walter B. Kielholz Born February 25, 1951 in Zurich
Married; Swiss citizen

Chairman of the Board of Directors,
Credit Suisse Group

Pictures

Walter B. Kielholz is the Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Chairman’s and Governance Committee of Credit Suisse Group (since January 2003). He has been a member of the Board since 1999 and served as Chairman of the Audit Committee from 1999 to 2002. His term as a member of the Board expires at the AGM in 2009. The Board has determined that he is independent under the Group’s independence standards.

Education

Mr. Kielholz studied Business Administration at the University of St. Gallen and graduated in 1976 with a degree in Business Finance and Accounting.

Career Development

1976 Mr. Kielholz began his career at the General Reinsurance Corporation, Zurich. After working in the US, UK and Italy, Mr. Kielholz assumed responsibility for the company’s European marketing.
1983 Opened an art gallery and picture framing business with his wife, Mrs. Daphne Kielholz-Pestalozzi. A second gallery was opened in 1986.
1986 Joined Credit Suisse, responsible for client relations with large insurance groups in the Multinational Services department.
1989 Joined Swiss Re, Zurich. He became a member of Swiss Re’s Executive Board in 1993 and was Swiss Re’s Chief Executive Officer from 1997-2002. A Board member since 1998, he became Executive Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of Swiss Re in 2003 and Vice-Chairman in 2007.

Industry associations

  • Since 1999, a Board member of the The Geneva Association, which researches the growing economic importance of worldwide insurance activities in the major sectors of the economy (president from 1999 to 2003).
  • Elected in 2005 by the members of the International Insurance Society to the Insurance Hall of Fame, which honours individuals who have exercised substantial influence on the industry for the benefit of society.
  • Since 2004, a member of the European Financial Roundtable (EFR), which contributes to the European public policy debate on issues relating to financial services.
  • President in 2006/2007 of the International Monetary Conference (IMC), an association of the largest banks worldwide.

Economic and political activities

  • Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Avenir Suisse, a think tank for social and economic development.
  • Since 2003, a member of the Board and the Committee of economiesuisse, the largest umbrella organization representing the Swiss economy.
  • Member of the Board of the Institute of International Finance
  • From 1998-2005, a member of the International Business Leader Advisory Council (IBLAC), an advisory group to the Mayor of Shanghai mainly composed of Presidents and CEOs from major global corporations.
  • From 2005-2007, a member of the US think tank Centre of Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

Other interests

Mr. Kielholz enjoys sailing, skiing, tennis, golf, reading, opera, concerts and art. He is a member of the Society of Zurich Friends of the Arts, the Lucerne Festival Foundation Board and Chairman of the Zürcher Kunstgesellschaft (Zurich Art Society), which runs Zurich’s Kunsthaus museum.