Claude Koestner is appointed Chief Executive Officer of Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale

Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale announces the appointments of Claude Koestner as Chief Executive Officer by the Board of Directors of Caisse Fédérale de Crédit Mutuel, on the recommendation of its Chairman, Daniel Baal.

Claude Koestner takes the helm of the ninth largest bank in the Eurozone. Already deeply involved in the group’s operational management and strategic decision-making, he succeeds Éric Petitgand, who had held this position since April 2024 and wished to step down from his duties. Anne Sophie Van Hoove will continue as Chief Operating Officer.

“I would like to thank Éric Petitgand for his work. He has successfully maintained our performance at the highest level and implemented our strategic plan, “Togetherness Performance Solidarity”. Claude Koestner was the obvious choice to succeed him. I wish him every success in his new role. His sense of teamwork and efficiency will enable the group to continue improving its performance, creating ever greater value, and sharing it,” says Daniel Baal, Chairman of Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale.

“I wish Daniel Baal and Claude Koestner every success and extend my sincere gratitude and best wishes to the elected members and employees of this outstanding group. I would also like to thank our members and customers; Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale and its subsidiaries thoroughly deserve their trust.” adds Éric Petitgand, outgoing Chief Executive Officer of Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale.

“Alongside Daniel Baal, and with pride in our mutualist model, we will work to further consolidate our expansion and development, while leveraging technology to improve our efficiency. By continuously improving our performance across all our business lines, we will be able to increase the positive impact of our cooperative and mutualist group on society,” concludes Claude Koestner, Chief Executive Officer of Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale.

Biography of Claude Koestner

Claude Koestner joined Crédit Industriel et Commercial in 1996, where he began his career as a retail bank manager. He was subsequently appointed corporate branch manager at Crédit Industriel d’Alsace et de Lorraine (CIAL), responsible for large corporates.

Between 2016 and 2020, Claude Koestner was Chief Executive Officer of CIC Est, a regional retail bank that covers 17 departments in eastern France. Alongside this role, he was appointed Deputy Chief Executive Officer of CIC in 2017 and Chairman of the Executive Board of the Banque Européenne du Crédit Mutuel (BECM) in 2020.

In January 2024, he was appointed Chief Operating Officer of CIC, responsible for the network activities, retail banking and the five regional banks (CIC Nord Ouest, CIC Ouest, CIC Est, CIC Sud Ouest and CIC Lyonnaise de Banque), while continuing to serve as Chairman of BECM.

In June 2026, Claude Koestner was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale.

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