Business · Companies · 1 hr ago
ZKB faces claims of abrupt staff changes in its direct banking unit
The Zurich Cantonal Bank, known as ZKB, is facing claims about sudden staff changes in its direct banking unit.
A Swiss news outlet says a newly hired team leader was dismissed soon after starting the job.
It reports that the dismissal may have followed a personal encounter outside the bank, but this is presented as unconfirmed information.
The outlet also says staff have faced abrupt leadership changes and roles that differed from what they had been promised.
The unit is overseen by Adrian Dietrich, who is deputy to the head of the bank’s private-client division, Susanne Thellung.
ZKB has previously said it chooses people based on their fit for a job and team, and that all employees have equal career opportunities.
The unit is important because ZKB is competing with Revolut, which the outlet describes as a challenge to Swiss banking; no next steps are stated.
Inside Paradeplatz reports claims of abrupt staff changes in Zürcher Kantonalbank’s direct banking unit.
An unnamed insider says a recently hired employee was dismissed by a team leader for personal reasons after the two encountered each other outside the bank.
The article attributes repeated abrupt management changes in the unit to its head, Adrian Dietrich.
ZKB has previously denied actively disadvantaging men in job appointments.
The bank says it selects the person with the best fit for the role and team and offers equal career opportunities to all employees.
- Who
- Zürcher Kantonalbank and staff in its direct banking unit. The article names unit head Adrian Dietrich and division head Susanne Thellung.
- What
- The article reports claims of abrupt staff and management changes, including the dismissal of a recently hired employee.
- When
- The article was published on 12 October 2026. The alleged changes are described as recent, with no specific dates given.
- Where
- Zürcher Kantonalbank’s direct banking unit in Zurich, Switzerland.
- Why
- An unnamed insider attributes the unrest to Dietrich. The article says the new employee’s dismissal was reportedly connected to a personal encounter outside the bank.
Zürcher Kantonalbank
An unnamed insider
Staff selection
Zürcher Kantonalbank
ZKB says the person with the best fit for the role and team is selected.
An unnamed insider
The insider says that after restructurings, women regularly win leadership roles over men.
Staff changes
Zürcher Kantonalbank
ZKB’s stated position is that all employees have equal career opportunities.
An unnamed insider
The insider says newly appointed team leaders can find the job situation differs from what they were promised, creating ongoing unrest.
When team leaders and team leaders compete for the same management job after restructurings, the woman regularly wins.
The person with the best fit for the job and therefore also for the team is selected.
Zürcher Kantonalbank offers all employees the same career opportunities.
Then they can leave again.
Susanne Thellung joined Zürcher Kantonalbank from Schwyzer Kantonalbank to build a new division for clients with assets of up to one million.
An unnamed insider says there have been repeated abrupt management changes in the direct banking unit.
A team leader reportedly dismissed a newly hired employee after the two encountered each other outside the bank.
Inside Paradeplatz published its report on claims of abrupt staff changes.
- Bank
- Zürcher Kantonalbank
- Unit head
- Adrian Dietrich
- Division head
- Susanne Thellung
- Thellung's previous bank
- Schwyzer Kantonalbank
- Client asset threshold
- Up to one million
- Publication date
- 12 October 2026
Sources
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