STEFAN Oswald has been appointed chief financial officer at Alphabet after joining the business earlier this month following the departure of Albert Vissers, who returned to the company’s operation in the Netherlands.
Oswald joins from the BMW Bank GmbH in Munich where he was global head of asset risk for five years, responsible for managing residual value risk worldwide. Prior to this, he performed the role of CFO for BMW Financial Services Switzerland from 2005 to 2009, followed by a spell in the equivalent role at BMW Financial Services Scandinavia between 2009-12.
Born and educated in Switzerland, Oswald speaks three languages and spent an earlier part of his career as an audit manager at PriceWaterhouseCoopers UK in London.
Oswald commented: “When I was offered the opportunity to move from my role at BMW Bank in Munich, I jumped at the chance. In my previous roles around Europe, I have had significant involvement with the Alphabet operations in Switzerland, the Nordic Region and worldwide via our international headquarters in Munich. There has naturally also been some cross-over with my previous responsibility for global Asset Risk.
“But moving to the UK – which is Alphabet’s original and largest market – where the leasing and fleet management business is so well-developed, dynamic and fast-paced it feels like joining the ‘Champions League’.
“The leasing and mobility industry is more competitive, more advanced and customer focused than almost any other area of automotive finance, so I’m relishing the challenge. As a commercially-focused chief financial officer I’m looking forward to being part of Alphabet’s leadership team in the UK.
“In the short time that I’ve been here, what has most struck me most is the positive spirit, can-do attitude and talent of the people in our business. Keeping the customer at the heart of everything we do is a mantra that runs throughout the organisation – from our people on the phones or in the field delivering front-line services right up to the executive team based in Farnborough.
“What’s more we enjoy what we do and like to work with a smile on our face – and that I think puts the smile on our customers faces too.”
Oswald, 50, is married with three children. Albert Vissers, who previously served as chief financial officer for Alphabet for over five years, returns to Alphabet Nederland B.V. in the role of chief financial officer for the Dutch market.
