BSI, the Lugano-based private bank, has named a new CEO and board chairman.

Swiss-based Banca della Svizzera Italiana, owned by Italy's Generali Group, has appointed a new chief executive and board chairman effective from the start January.

Stefano Coduri will replace Alfredo Gysi as CEO, who, upon reaching an age of retirement and working at BSI since 1994, is stepping down from his current operational role, Gysi has been named as a new board of directors member from 1 January - subject to shareholder approval. He is also expected to become chairman of the board when the term of present chairman Giorgio Ghiringhelli ends in April.

Ghiringhelli, who joined BSI in 1963, has decided to leave the board after 18 years. He led projects including the integrations of Lugano-based Banca Unione di Credito, acquired in 2006, and Banca del Gottardo, acquired in 2007, as well as the execution of a new IT platform.

Coduri started his career at the bank in 1989 and was appointed to the executive board in 2004. He led the integration of Banca Unione di Credito, acquired in 2006, and that of Banca del Gottardo, bought in 2007. 

BSI, which is one of the oldest banks in Switzerland, has been part of Generali since 1998. Among its most important business sectors is the Asia-Pacific market. Earlier this month, BSI was reportedly set to grow its Hong Kong office headcount by over 80 per cent or 54 people within the next year. The bank may boost headcount to as many as 120 people from the current 66.