Julius Baer Group has named Francis Hoefman as its new Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) and a member of its Global Wealth Management Committee, effective January 11, 2027. She will succeed Guido Ruoss, who is leaving the Swiss wealth management group after 18 years, the last 11 of which he led the HR function, to pursue an opportunity outside the firm.
Hoefman joins from Reckitt, a global consumer company with approximately 36,000 employees across more than 80 countries. Most recently, she oversaw global talent, leadership development, category capability, and the R&D people agenda, leading a global HR organization of about 500 professionals. In that role, she was instrumental in shaping the company’s leadership, talent, and culture strategy, strengthening organizational capabilities, and supporting sustainable business performance. During her time at Reckitt, she also led the global HR organization for the company’s Hygiene and Health divisions and held senior HR leadership roles in international markets. Before Reckitt, she held senior HR positions at H.J. Heinz and Mars Inc., and began her career as Director of VHPP, an association representing senior Philips employees. She holds a Master of Laws in Company Law and Labour from Maastricht University and completed a post-master specialization in Labour Law at Grotius Academy.
Stefan Bollinger, Chief Executive Officer of Julius Baer, said: “We are delighted to welcome Francis to Julius Baer. Our people are our most valuable asset, so we set out to find the very best CHRO, regardless of sector or geography. Francis brings us significant experience as a global HR leader at a company renowned for developing high performing teams, a growth mindset in a highly competitive sector, and an entrepreneurial ownership culture that drives business results. She will be a valuable addition to our senior management team, driving our people agenda, unlocking the full potential of our talented employees across the Group, and ensuring Julius Baer is employer of choice and the prime spot for prime talent.”
Bollinger also thanked Ruoss for his contributions: “I want to thank Guido for his many lasting contributions to the Group across a range of initiatives and programmes over his 18 years with Julius Baer, the last 11 years leading the Group’s HR function. We appreciate his dedication and care for our people, which has significantly contributed to making Julius Baer a great place to work. We wish him every success in the future.”
The appointment underscores Julius Baer’s emphasis on human capital as a competitive differentiator in wealth management. With Hoefman’s background in consumer goods and organizational transformation, the bank aims to strengthen its people strategy and employer brand. As of the end of June 2026, Julius Baer reported assets under management of CHF 547 billion and operates in around 25 countries and 60 locations. The group’s shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and included in the Swiss Leader Index. The announcement was first distributed via NEWMEDIAWIRE, and further details are available on the company’s website.
