The Swiss Federal Council has appointed Katia Villard as a new member of the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) Board of Directors. She will take up her mandate on 1 January 2026 for the remainder of the current term of office through to the end of 2027, succeeding Ursula Cassani Bossy, who will step down on 31 December 2025 after six years on the board. Villard is a professor of criminal law with expertise in commercial criminal law, anti-money laundering, and banking and financial market law. She has been an associate professor of criminal law at the University of Geneva since 2022 and has headed the university’s Centre for Banking and Financial Market Law since 2023. With effect from 1 January 2026, FINMA’s Board of Directors will have eight members: Chair Marlene Amstad, Vice-Chair Martin Suter, Katia Villard, Aline Darbellay, Alberto Franceschetti, Benjamin Gentsch, Marzio Hug and Andreas Schlatter. FINMA’s board is its strategic management body, comprising seven to nine members, and is responsible for setting FINMA’s strategic objectives (for Federal Council approval), deciding on matters of substantial importance, issuing circulars and delegated ordinances, and appointing the Chief Executive Officer subject to Federal Council approval.
Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) 2025-11-19
Swiss Federal Council appoints Katia Villard to the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority Board of Directors
The Swiss Federal Council has appointed Katia Villard to the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) Board of Directors, effective 1 January 2026, succeeding Ursula Cassani Bossy. Villard, a professor of criminal law with expertise in commercial criminal law and financial market law, will serve through 2027. FINMA's Board, its strategic management body, will consist of eight members, including Chair Marlene Amstad and Vice-Chair Martin Suter.