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Leaders Unplugged

From the global to the personal with UBS CEO Sergio Ermotti

7 April 2025 • by David Bach, Felix Zeltner in Leaders Unplugged

IMD President David Bach goes from the global to the personal with one of the world’s most prominent bankers....

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Welcome to the second episode of Leaders Unplugged, a bi-weekly podcast by IMD, hosted by IMD President David Bach with Felix Zeltner.

 

In this wide-ranging chat, Bach goes from the global to the personal with one of the world’s most prominent bankers, UBS CEO Sergio Ermotti.

At a recent event at IMD in Lausanne, Sergio Ermotti joined David Bach on stage and put a host of burning questions and discussion points into a larger perspective. Taken straight from the headlines, Ermotti gives his impressions on AI, cryptocurrencies, tariffs, and how Europe should respond to the changing global situation.

Ermotti and and Bach also took a closer look at the recent integration of post-collapse Credit Suisse. Find out how that massive event impacted the perception of Switzerland’s UBS, which Ermotti says has reduced its risk and is well-placed to increase efficiency moving forward. Finally, Ermotti offered some career advice using his own story and emphasizing courage and continuous learning. He champions banking as a dynamic sector, highlighting its central role in the global economy and the opportunities it offers for growth.

Leaders Unplugged features real talk with the impactful. Candid, honest, actionable, and fresh from behind the scenes. It is presented by IMD in collaboration with Remote Daily.

Authors

David Bach

David Bach

President of IMD and Nestlé Professor of Strategy and Political Economy

David Bach is President of IMD and Nestlé Professor of Strategy and Political Economy. He assumed the Presidency of IMD on 1 September 2024. He is working to broaden and deepen IMD’s global impact through learning innovation, excellence in degree- and executive programs, and applied thought leadership. Recognized globally as an innovator in management education, Bach previously served as IMD’s Dean of Innovation and Programs.

Felix Zeltner

Felix Zeltner is a journalist and entrepreneur. He is the founder of Remote Daily, a media company specialized in building live talk shows for organizations around the world. He hosts Wunderbar Together, the leading German-American podcast, and is the co-author of “Stadtnomaden” (2019) and “Hype” (2024). Zeltner holds a double-degree in journalism from Munich University LMU and German Journalism School, and has received several awards for his reporting (Arte, ARD, Der Spiegel). He lives in New York City with his family.

Expert

Sergio Ermotti

Sergio Ermotti

Group CEO of UBS Group AG

Sergio Ermotti is the Group CEO of UBS Group AG since April 2023, having also been CEO of the company from 2011 to 2020. He re-joined UBS from Swiss Re, where he was the Chairman of the Board of Directors. Ermotti started his banking career as an apprentice at a small bank in his hometown of Lugano, Switzerland. He is a Swiss-certified banking expert and a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at Oxford University.

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