EBF promotes a new leader to the top executive position
In the heart of Europe's financial landscape, the European Banking Federation (EBF) is navigating a significant period of change, with Wim Mijs at the helm as its CEO. Mijs, who has been at the helm since 2011, has been actively addressing the major challenges that European banks face, particularly the issue of over €1 trillion in frozen capital within the EU banking system.
This idle capital is a result of fragmented and inconsistent regulations across EU member states, which hampers lending, investment, and the banks' ability to support households, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and innovators effectively. Mijs has warned that this regulatory rigidity acts as a significant brake on Europe's economic growth and competitiveness, emphasising the need for EU policymakers to move from fragmented, complex regulatory frameworks to more unified, pragmatic, and clear rules. This change, Mijs believes, is critical to unlocking capital for achieving the EU's ambitious green, digital, defence, and industrial goals.
Mijs' leadership at the EBF is not his first foray into banking leadership roles. Prior to his current position, he served as the CEO of the Dutch Banking Association (NVB) from 2007. His international banking experience extends further, having chaired the International Banking Federation in London in 2011. Mijs has also been a member of the EBF's executive committee since 2012, serving as its chair between 2012 and 2014.
The European banking sector is undergoing a crucial period of regulatory overhaul, banking union establishment, and centralised supervision from Frankfurt. Amidst this transformation, Mijs' most significant challenge is to restore trust in the sector as a catalyst for recovery and economic growth. Mijs expresses his honour to represent the European banking sector, acknowledging the sector's critical role in driving Europe's economic prosperity.
Recently, it was announced that Guido Ravet will replace Mijs as the EBF chief executive and will become the secretary general of Euribor-EBF, or the European Monetary Market Institute (EMMI). Mijs' tenure at the Dutch Banking Association ended in 2021, as he now holds the position at the EBF.
In summary, Wim Mijs, the current CEO of the European Banking Federation, is leading the charge in addressing the key challenge of over €1 trillion in frozen capital within the EU banking system. Mijs is advocating for a shift from regulatory rigidity to pragmatism, unification, and simplification of banking regulations to enhance competitiveness in the global financial landscape. Under Mijs' leadership, the EBF is undergoing a crucial period of change, with the establishment of a banking union and centralised supervision from Frankfurt. Mijs' tenure at the EBF is marked by his dedication to restoring trust in the sector as a catalyst for recovery and economic growth.
- Wim Mijs, currently at the helm of the European Banking Federation, is focused on transforming trade finance and investment in emerging markets within the EU, as he advocates for the simplification of banking regulations to speed up the release of over €1 trillion in frozen capital.
- As the leader of the EBF, Mijs has been emphasizing the importance of streamlined regulations in finance, particularly supporting businesses such as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and innovators, thereby enhancing Europe's competitiveness in the global business arena.
