Julius Baer Group has announced the appointment of Francis Hoefman as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) and member of its Global Wealth Management Committee, effective 11 January 2027. She will succeed Guido Ruoss, who is leaving the firm to pursue another opportunity outside Julius Baer after ensuring a seamless transition.
Hoefman joins Julius Baer from Reckitt, a global consumer company with approximately 36,000 employees operating in more than 80 countries. Most recently, she was responsible for the company’s global talent, leadership development, category capability, and R&D people agenda, leading a global HR organization of around 500 professionals. In that role, she played a pivotal role in shaping Reckitt’s leadership, talent and culture agenda, strengthening organizational capabilities, and enabling sustainable business performance. During her tenure, she also led the global HR organization for Reckitt’s Hygiene and Health business divisions and held several senior HR leadership roles across international markets.
Prior to Reckitt, Hoefman held senior HR roles with H.J. Heinz and Mars Inc. She began her career as Director of VHPP, the 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 Guido 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 comes as Julius Baer continues to focus on its people strategy amid a competitive landscape for wealth management talent. As of the end of June 2026, the group reported assets under management of CHF 547 billion and operates in around 25 countries with 60 locations. The firm’s shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and included in the Swiss Leader Index. For more information, visit www.juliusbaer.com.
Hoefman’s extensive experience in talent development and organizational transformation is expected to bolster Julius Baer’s ability to attract and retain top talent, a critical factor in the highly competitive wealth management industry. The leadership change underscores the importance of human capital in driving sustainable business performance and maintaining a strong employer brand. The original release is available via www.newmediawire.com.
