Director of the Liechtenstein Bankers Association (LBA)
2004 – 2010
My mission as Chairman of the LBA from 2004 onwards was to reposition Liechtenstein’s banking centre. The Principality had come under heavy criticism from abroad and was keen to shake off its baggage. A series of groundbreaking agreements and regular dialogue with members of the German Bundestag, from across the political spectrum, made this possible, and paved the way for Liechtenstein to achieve tax transparency and regain its reputation as a financial centre. In addition to the German institutions, the focus was on negotiations with U.S. authorities, particularly with the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Investigations under Carl Levin. In this context, Stuart E. Eizenstat (former U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Treasury) said: “No country did it further and faster than Liechtenstein“.
Career
Attorney General of Switzerland
I was the first Attorney General of Switzerland to be elected by the Federal Parliament. At the Attorney General’s office, I introduced self-administration and strengthened the combat against white-collar crime with a focus on money laundering, corruption, organised crime and asset recovery. I also emphasised national and international cooperation.
Presidency of the Liechtenstein Financial Market Authority (FMA)
The Liechtenstein Parliament elected me Chairman of the Board of Directors of the country’s Financial Market Authority in 2010. I went on to reorganise the authority’s governance and to manage regulatory implementation of EU Directives in financial market law.
Financial Intelligence Unit of Liechtenstein
On behalf of the Liechtenstein government, I set up the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), the Principality’s first money laundering reporting office.
Director of PolyReg and legal practice
As part of the implementation of the Swiss Anti-Money Laundering Act, I established PolyReg, a self-regulatory organisation (SRO), and managed it alongside my activities as an independent lawyer.
Swiss Federal Office of Police fedpol
I set up the Central Office for Organised Crime at what is today the Swiss Federal Office of Police fedpol in 1995. In this role, I was responsible for planning and setting up the Money Laundering Reporting Office Switzerland (MROS).
Police force of the Canton of Bern (Switzerland), Criminal Investigation unit
In 1993, I took over as Head of the Special Investigations 1 section at the newly restructured Bernese cantonal police department.
Examining magistrate in the Bernese Oberland (Switzerland)
After studying law at the University of Bern (Switzerland) and being admitted to the bar, I joined the Bernese judiciary in 1992 as one of the canton’s newly created examining magistrates.