Carsten Stolz, Chief Financial Officer of the Baloise Group, has decided to leave the company effective 31 December 2025 to pursue new professional challenges outside the organization. His departure concludes a 23-year tenure during which he held various positions at both the group level and within the operating business before becoming CFO in 2017.
Stolz's exit represents a notable transition for Baloise, a European insurance and financial services company founded over 160 years ago. As CFO, he was a member of the Corporate Executive Committee and the Group Strategy Board, holding responsibility for the further development and transformation of the finance function. Thomas von Planta, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Baloise Holding Ltd, acknowledged Stolz's contributions, stating the company is losing a highly experienced executive and proven leader who initiated and successfully implemented the financial transformation of the Baloise Group.
The announcement is significant for the insurance industry and financial markets, as leadership stability in key roles like CFO is crucial for strategic execution and investor confidence. Baloise, which employs 8,000 people and generated a business volume of around CHF 8.6 billion in 2024, operates in Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, and Luxembourg. Its shares (BALN) are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange. The company's focus, as stated on its website, is on making tomorrow more straightforward, safer, and more carefree for customers through smart finance and insurance solutions.
For stakeholders, including investors, employees, and customers, the planned departure of a long-tenured CFO who played a key role in the company's financial strategy necessitates a managed succession process to ensure continuity. The Board of Directors expressed gratitude for Stolz's significant contributions over more than two decades and wished him well for the future. The original release was published on NewMediaWire. The timing of the announcement, well in advance of his departure date, provides the company with a substantial period to identify and onboard a successor, potentially mitigating disruption to the group's financial operations and strategic initiatives.
