Christof Danz
Corporate Spokesman
RBI: New Executives appointed for Group Retail Banking, General Secretariat, Group Risk Controlling, and Group Communications
Vienna, 1 July, 2026. Michael Höllerer, CEO of Raiffeisen Bank International AG (RBI), is taking the first steps toward further developing his area of responsibility on the Executive Board with the appointment of new executives for Group Retail Banking, Group Corporate Governance & Chairman’s Office and Group Communications. Furthermore, the succession to the head of Group Risk Controlling has been finalized. With these appointments, RBI confirms its commitment to excellent corporate governance, efficient decision-making processes, and forward-looking, responsible corporate management. In addition, RBI’s retail banking capabilities are to be strengthened to support future growth, and internal and external communications are to be consolidated.
Group Retail Banking
Curt Chadha will assume responsibility for Group Retail Banking. In his new role, effective 1 September, he will drive the further development of the retail business within the RBI Group and, in particular, provide new impetus to strengthen group-wide collaboration on key customer issues. A particular focus will be on the digital transformation of the retail business and on creating tangible and measurable added value for customers, both through the development of new products and services and through the targeted expansion of partnerships. This is intended to unlock additional growth opportunities in RBI's core markets.
By pooling expertise and strengthening the integration of retail activities, RBI aims to further solidify its position as a leading universal bank in Central and Eastern Europe.
Group Corporate Governance & Chairman’s Office
Effective 1 August, Christine Anwander-Hirsch will assume leadership of the Group Corporate Governance & Chairman’s Office division. As the new Secretary General, she will oversee the Executive Board Office and the Chairman’s Office (Office of the Chairman of the Supervisory Board), as well as corporate governance. Her key responsibilities include further developing corporate governance standards and supporting efficient decision-making processes in line with our strategic priorities. Through the responsible use of AI-supported processes, the efficiency and quality of the governing bodies' work will be enhanced. RBI views modern corporate governance as an essential foundation for sustainable value creation and responsible corporate management.
Group Risk Controlling
Following Oliver Gorbach’s appointment to the management board of Raiffeisen Niederösterreich-Wien, Sara Lambing will take over as head of Group Risk Controlling on 1 September.
Group Risk Controlling monitors the group's risk appetite for individual risk categories and from an overarching, comprehensive perspective. Group Risk Controlling also develops modern risk models and measurement methods and serves as an independent reporting unit to the Supervisory Board within the framework of the Risk Committee. This ensures stable and sustainable management of all risks across the entire Group.
Group Communications
By merging internal and external communications, the RBI Group is laying the foundation for integrated, consistent, and proactive communication. This will further strengthen RBI’s positioning with internal and external stakeholders.
Rupert Reif will take over as head of the new Group Communications division starting 1 September.
RBI will continue to rely on the expertise of long-standing Group Spokesperson Christof Danz. Together with Rupert Reif, he will serve as the point of contact for media inquiries. Group Investor Relations will move to CFO Kamila Makhmudova’s area of responsibility.
About the Individuals
Curt Chadha brings many years of international experience in developing digital business models in retail banking and heads the Strategy & Innovation division at Raiffeisen-Holding Niederösterreich-Wien and Raiffeisenlandesbank NÖ-Wien. Prior to that, he worked at RBI, where he was responsible for the Payments & Daily Banking division. Curt Chadha is trained as a lawyer and completed his academic education in Vienna and London.
Christine Anwander-Hirsch has many years of experience in the banking sector and has headed the Chairman’s Office at RBI since 2022. Previously, she worked in the Legal Services department at RBI as an expert in corporate governance, banking, corporate law, and regulatory affairs. She has made significant contributions to the further development of the RBI Group’s corporate governance standards in her previous roles. Since 2006, she has been engaged in social causes as a founding and board member of the association “H. Stepic CEE Charity, powered by RBI Group”. She is a graduate and former teaching assistant at the Faculty of Law at the University of Vienna.
Sara Lambing brings more than 15 years of risk management experience. In her current role she is responsible for the ICAAP framework, stress testing, regulatory capital requirements calculation and recovery & resolution. She holds a PhD in mathematics.
Rupert Reif is currently responsible for Group Communications at Raiffeisen-Holding Niederösterreich-Wien
and Raiffeisenlandesbank NÖ-Wien. He has many years of experience in internal and external communications at the intersection of business, politics, and the media. He previously worked at the Federal Chancellery and the Ministry of Finance, among other places. Reif studied banking and insurance, as well as content strategy, in Graz.