Brussels, December 13 – On the occasion of its 51st General Assembly (GA), the European Association of Co-operative Banks (EACB) bid farewell to the outgoing President Berry Marttin and elected Daniel Quinten to succeed him as chair. The meeting was hosted by Federação Nacional das Caixas de Crédito Agrícola Mútuo (FENACAM) and the Caixa Central, namely President Licínio Pina, in Lisbon.
The members of the EACB paid a heartfelt tribute to Berry Marttin. Elected as President in 2020, he safely guided the Association through the pandemic years and infused a new impetus for the EACB to grow and strengthen its foothold. Under his tenure, the EACB reinforced its governance and internal processes, set up a new strategy and further developed its external profile.
“Berry Marttin was unanimously recognised as a champion in the common effort to promote the value of cooperative banking and market diversity, a leader capable of enacting change and uniting members”, emphasised Ms. Nina Schindler, EACB CEO.
The members of the EACB General Assembly elected Mr. Daniel Quinten to succeed Mr. Marttin as pro tempore President from 1st January until the end of the mandate in June 2024. Mr. Vincent Maagdenberg will fill Rabobank’ seat in the EACB Board and was elected to assume during the same period the position of pro tempore Vice-President. Ms. Isabelle Ferrand continues in her current Vice-President mandate.
Following the election, Mr. Quinten highlighted how his pro tempore appointment will span over a crucial and intensive period, with the campaign for the June 2024 EU elections approaching. With a new European Parliament upcoming, the EACB will be busy developing and addressing clear policy messages with a view to maintain a regulatory framework that is fit for purpose.
The two day event was also the occasion to welcome a new associate member (the Business Council of Co-operative and Mutuals from Australia), reaffirming the central role that cooperative banks play for local development in regions of Europe and engage with high level speakers from Banco de Portugal and the Portuguese National Cybersecurity Centre.
In the distinctive setting of the National Coach Museum, the EACB welcomed Mr. Rui Pinto, Board Member of Banco de Portugal, who shared his insight into the most relevant regulatory developments and the prospective and emerging risks and opportunities facing European banks, pointing especially at the evolution of credit risk and the impact of climate and environmental risk.
Finally, Mr. Lino Santos, head of the Portuguese National Cybersecurity Centre, provided an outline of the state of the art with regard to cybersecurity threats faced by financial institutions, highlighting in particular the sophistication of the attacks and the need to invest and raise customers’ awareness in the times ahead.