To mark this milestone, Sergio Ermotti shared a personal post on LinkedIn:
«When I started as a 15-year-old apprentice at a regional bank in my hometown of Lugano exactly 50 years ago today, banking was not my dream. Football was.»

«In fact, the apprenticeship was only meant as a temporary step – either until I made it as a professional footballer or, failing that, as a plan B to become a sports teacher.»

Banking as Plan B and True Calling

But within just a few months, Ermotti discovered a new calling:
«I realized that banking was much more than a placeholder. I found a profession that rewards continuous learning, hard work, integrity, and the courage to seize opportunities when luck comes by. Banking became my new Plan B.»

This shift in perspective shaped the trajectory of his career.
«I have experienced highs and lows. I took risks that pushed me far out of my comfort zone – from building a capital markets business from scratch to leading UBS through some of the industry's most challenging times.»

At Its Core: Trust

«Banking is fundamentally about trust. It is shaped by the people you deal with – colleagues, clients, regulators, and even competitors – all of whom challenge you to raise the bar, think more strategically, and lead with clarity.»

Ermotti also took the opportunity to advocate for Switzerland’s vocational education system:
«I have always believed in the strength of the Swiss apprenticeship model. It gives young people the chance to learn on the job, to discover their strengths – and sometimes, as in my case, to find a vocation they didn’t know they had.»

From Apprentice to Global CEO

His advice to the next generation:
«Careers rarely follow a straight line. Adaptability, passion, and openness to change are far more powerful than a rigid plan. Be open to surprises. Don’t cling too tightly to a single dream – otherwise, you might miss the opportunity that’s right in front of you. Sometimes, Plan B turns out to be the most rewarding path of all.»

Ermotti’s career began in 1975 at Cornèr Bank in Lugano, where he completed a three-year apprenticeship and continued working in various roles until 1985. This was followed by stints at Citi and Merrill Lynch, where he ultimately served as Co-Head of Global Equity Markets. From 2005, he worked at UniCredit, including as Deputy CEO.

Will There Be a Diamond Anniversary?

In April 2011, he joined UBS, becoming CEO just a few months later. He held this role until 2020. After a stint as Chairman of Swiss Re, he returned to the helm of UBS in spring 2023 in the wake of the bank’s emergency acquisition of Credit Suisse.

It is generally expected that Sergio Ermotti will step down from the operational top post in the coming years. Whether – and in what capacity – there will be a diamond jubilee for his 60th anniversary remains to be seen.