30.10.2006 – 13:25

BSI SA

Banca del Gottardo strengthens Executive Board - Christoph Weber to be new Head of Private Banking North

Lugano (ots)

- Indication: Picture can be downloaded under:
   http://www.presseportal.ch/de/story.htx?firmaid=100000145&lang=2 -

Christoph Weber, currently Deputy to the CEO of
ATAG Asset Management, is to join Banca del Gottardo on 1 March 2007.
As a member of the Executive Board, he will be responsible for
managing and expanding the Private Banking business in Switzerland's
German and French-speaking regions as well as in Luxembourg.

Christoph Weber (47), currently Deputy to the CEO of ATAG Asset
Management, will join Banca del Gottardo's Executive Board on 1 March
2007 as Head of Private Banking North. In this function, he will be
responsible for managing and expanding the Private Banking business
in Switzerland's German and French-speaking regions as well as in
Luxembourg.

As a member of the Executive Board of ATAG Asset Management, a
subsidiary of Basellandschaftliche Kantonalbank, Christoph Weber has
been responsible for the former's private and institutional clients
since 2000. He previously held management functions at Zürcher
Kantonalbank and Bank Vontobel.

The Private Banking North business area was created as part of the
Bank's strategic reorientation and increased focus on Private
Banking, and is currently headed on an interim basis by CEO Rolf
Aeberli. The Bank thus underscores its declared aim of further
expanding its business outside the Canton of Ticino and northern
Italy, where it has traditionally enjoyed a strong position. Private
Banking North encompasses the branch offices in Zurich, where Banca
del Gottardo has been present since 1971, Geneva (since 1991),
Lausanne (since 1971) and Luxembourg (since 1980). Christoph Weber
will be predominantly based in Zurich.

Rolf Aeberli, CEO of Banca del Gottardo, said, "I am very pleased
that we have found such a capable and experienced personality to take
over the position of Head of Private Banking North. I am convinced
that Christoph Weber, together with our branch managers north of the
Gotthard, will make a substantial contribution to our growth."

Curriculum vitae

Christoph Weber
   Swiss citizen
   Born on 3 April 1959
   Married

Professional experience

2000 to date  ATAG Asset Management (AAM)
   Responsible for private and institutional clients
   Member of the Executive Board (Deputy CEO)
   Member of the Group Executive Board of Basellandschaftliche     
   Kantonalbank

1991 - 2000   Zürcher Kantonalbank
   1994 - 2000   Head Institutional Investment and Pension Services
   1991 - 1994   Head Financial Services Zurich-West

1988 - 1991   Bank J. Vontobel
                 Head of training

Banca del Gottardo specialises in comprehensive private banking
services in its core markets of Switzerland and Italy. It is
headquartered in Lugano and has subsidiaries, branches and
representative offices in Zurich, Geneva, Lausanne, Bellinzona,
Chiasso, Locarno, Bergamo, Milan, Rome, Treviso, Turin, Athens,
Luxembourg, Madrid, Paris, Hong Kong and Nassau. Banca del Gottardo
belongs to the Swiss Life Group, which is listed on the SWX Swiss
Exchange and is one of the leading suppliers of pension and life
insurance solutions in Europe. www.gottardo.com

Contact:

Banca del Gottardo
Franco Rogantini
Media Relations
Viale S. Franscini 8
6901 Lugano
Tel. +41/91/808'33'60
Fax +41/91/923'94'33
E-Mail: franco.rogantini@gottardo.com