His family means a lot to him and on sunny days he occasionally enjoys a drive in his Porsche 911. In this interview, Saxo Bank's Deputy CEO talks about his principles of success and what advice he would give his younger self.
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What is the first thing you do in the morning?
I start my day freshly squeezed lemon juice – the zesty acidity instantly energizes me. My two children, aged 7 and 9, are fairly independent, but I always lend a hand with breakfast prep. Afterward, I head to the store – a short drive followed by a longer train ride, during which I catch up on the news. By the time I arrive at the office in the Circle near the airport, I’ve already tackled the most important emails.
What is the best thing about your job?
My job is extremely exciting and challenging; the environment is constantly changing. The competition for a digital bank is tough, especially since the really big players are also getting involved. This constantly presents highly interesting strategic and operational tasks – tasks in which I can and must make full use of the expertise I have acquired over a long career in banking. What keeps me grounded every day is my incredibly professional team, whom I can rely on completely in any situation.
A moment that changed your life?
The biggest change in my life was starting a family. Having two children has shifted my focus and priorities, bringing me immense joy and a deeper sense of purpose. It also gives me greater responsibility, which I am very happy to take on and which makes me more mature and therefore fitter for responsibilities in business life.
What cars do you drive? What is your favorite?
What's important to me in a car is that it's suitable for the family. We are often on the road as a family, in winter for a ski weekend in the mountains, in summer for a vacation in the sun in Ticino. Our car offers enough space for four people, the necessary luggage and is also less prone to breakdowns. I also have a second car, but it is usually parked in the garage. By chance, I was able to take over an old 911 from a friend a few years ago. I occasionally take this car out for a drive on a sunny summer's day and really enjoy it.
What advice would you give your 20-year-old-self?
Invest a lot in yourself, in your personal and professional development. Look to the future with confidence. Whatever path you take, as long as you enjoy it, you will be successful.
What are you particularly proud of?
I am particularly proud that Saxo Bank Switzerland's new strategy is working successfully.
What was your biggest defeat?
Who really likes to publicly share their biggest defeat? Yet this question comes up time and time again. What truly matters is how you handle setbacks. For me, it’s about taking a step back, reflecting, learning from experience, and moving forward. Dwelling on failure for too long doesn’t help at all.
What is your favorite wine?
Wine is a real luxury for me, which means that I only enjoy a glass on special occasions, such as birthdays or Christmas. I keep a few good bottles of Merlot, Rioja and Bordeaux wines in my cellar for such occasions.
What are you working on at the moment?
As our customers are our top priority, we are constantly thinking about improvements in this area. At the moment, it is particularly important to me that we continue to innovate and stay one step ahead of the competition.
What is most important to you at the moment?
The most important thing for me is all the positive customer feedback. Saxo's brand perception in customer surveys and external customer feedback has developed very positively over the past year. For example, we currently have the best Trustpilot rating of all Swiss banks.
What would be the biggest surprise for someone who had to do your job for a day?
The variety of different topics and tasks that keep me on my toes every day. The spectrum ranges from strategic considerations and the development of innovation projects to operational topics such as personnel issues or questions about market developments. Every day is a new challenge, which is exactly what makes my job so appealing.
What is your personal motivation?
My personal drive is to always give my best, both professionally and privately. I am highly motivated to inspire my team with ideas and develop solutions that create real added value for everyone involved. At the same time, I am driven by the desire to be a reliable partner for my family and to provide them with a stable, fulfilling life. This mix of professional and personal responsibility gives me energy and focus every day.
What are you afraid of?
Fears of negative events are not very helpful. If a negative event happens, then I will deal with it at the time. However, it is important to me that my family is well protected should something happen to me.
Your favorite watch brand?
As I do sport regularly, I am interested in how certain physical data develops during and after training. A watch that provides me with this kind of information is a priority for me - I currently use an Apple Watch.
What do your employees value most about you?
According to the annual employee survey, my communicative and open manner in dealing with my colleagues is appreciated.
Your best investment?
If your question relates to financial investments, I would like to emphasize that a diversified portfolio leads to financial success, especially in these uncertain times. Some individual securities may outperform others in the short term, but this is often not a reliable indicator of future performance. For more detailed insights, refer to the highly regarded research available on our platform. Our analysts constantly monitor the latest developments and provide actionable conclusions for our clients.
In my private life, time with my children is certainly a good investment in the future.
Oliver Buomberger is Deputy CEO and COO of Saxo Bank. Since joining in 2021, he has driven the Danish bank's growth in Switzerland.
