Wikipedia

Philipp Hildebrand

Philipp Michael Hildebrand (born 19 July 1963) is a Swiss banker who has been a vice chairman of BlackRock since 2012.[1][2]

Philipp Hildebrand
Born
Philipp Michael Hildebrand

(1963-07-19) 19 July 1963 (age 60)
Bern, Switzerland
EducationUniversity of Toronto
Lincoln College, Oxford
Graduate Institute of International Studies
OccupationBanker
Spouse(s)Kimberley Hildebrand (m. 2024), Kashya Mahmood (m. 1998–2013)
PartnerMargarita Louis-Dreyfus (2013–2022)
Children3

Hildebrand was the head of the Swiss central bank, the Swiss National Bank (SNB), from 2010 until he resigned on 9 January 2012 after controversy surrounding his wife's currency trading.[3][4] He had been a member of the central bank's governing board since 2003.[5]

Early life and education edit

Hildebrand attended the University of Toronto, Oxford University's Lincoln College,[2] and the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva. He was part of a group of students that helped out during the Annual Meetings of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. There, he met leading international government officials and bankers.[2]

Career in the private sector edit

In 1994 Hildebrand began his professional career at WEF. He subsequently worked at Moore Capital Management, a hedge fund in New York and London, where he met his wife.[6] He then worked as head of hedge funds for Union Bancaire Privée in Geneva and Vontobel in Zurich.[2]

Career at the SNB edit

Hildebrand was said to be the "youngest ever policy maker" when he joined the SNB in 2003.[7]

Prior to his resignation from the SNB, Hildebrand was a member of the board of directors of the Bank for International Settlements in Basel, as well as vice-chairman of the Financial Stability Board. From 2008, he was a member of the Group of Thirty.

Controversy around the 2009/2010 exchange rate interventions edit

Hildebrand was attacked after losses arising from SNB's exchange rate interventions between March 2009 and June 2010. In this period, the SNB accumulated foreign currency reserves worth over 200 billion Swiss francs (Codes: CHF, SFr). As the Swiss franc has appreciated, the interventions caused losses on SNB foreign currency positions equivalent to 26.5 billion Swiss francs in 2010 and 11.7 billion Swiss francs in the first six months of 2011.[8] The SNB has defended these interventions as they made “sense at the zero lower bound when the traditional monetary policy instrument is exhausted”.[9] Some international press and financial market analysts considered the interventions a “costly failure”.[10]

The People's Party (Schweizerische Volkspartei (SVP) / Union Démocratique du Centre (UDC)) and the magazine Weltwoche were critics of Hildebrand, demanding his resignation. Prominent figures of other parties supported Hildebrand and emphasized the political independence of the SNB. In an article titled “With Unsteady Hand”, Switzerland's major business magazine Bilanz criticized Mr. Hildebrand's leadership of SNB, citing his limited experience and saying that Mr. Hildebrand's actions in large parts seem to be the result of his eagerness to appeal to the public.[11]

Pegging of the Swiss Franc to the Euro since 6 September 2011 edit

Hildebrand is considered a driving force behind the pegging of the Swiss Franc to the Euro announced on 6 September 2011.[citation needed] The central bank commits to undertake transactions to cap the value of the franc against the euro at a maximum of 1.20.[12] In early August, the euro fell to near parity, at 1.00749, against the franc.[12] After initial cautious reactions by analysts,[13][14] the decision of the Swiss National Bank to aim to keep the Swiss Franc: Euro rate above 1.20 is considered to have been a success.[15]

2011 personal foreign exchange trading and resignation edit

In August, 2011, Hildebrand's wife Kashya[16][17] made a CHF 60,000 ($64,400) profit on a currency transaction. At the time, Philipp Hildebrand reported the transaction to the SNB and moved to prevent future such trades with Bank Sarasin. His wife asserted her independent finance and banking experience as the basis for the "almost ridiculously cheap" trade.[3] In January, 2012, Hildebrand denied accusations of insider trading in relation to the transaction, resisted calls for his resignation and called the coverage "a smear campaign".[18]

He said that his political foes endangered the secrecy laws and "the interests of Switzerland" with the accusations. "I made mistakes" in not canceling the trade, which profited from the SNB's decision to intervene in the currency markets two days later "but I always acted in line with the rules", he said.[19]

The profit in the later report was said to be CHF 75,000. A whistleblower alleged to have released the information about the trade has been fired and faces criminal investigations under Swiss banking secrecy laws.[19] Kashya, who runs an art gallery in Zurich[20] and previously traded currencies,[16] made two other transactions – the three totaled $2 million principal amount – but the other two "didn’t break central bank rules because they were more than six months apart". Philipp "told reporters he had donated all profits made from ... currency deals to a Swiss charitable organization [and] ... said the Swiss central bank’s rules already meet European standards. Germany’s ... Handelsblatt newspaper questioned this. 'If Hildebrand had been the guardian of the euro, and not the franc, then the European Central Bank’s rules would have given [him] no other option but to resign', the paper wrote."[17] The whistleblower was reported to have given the trade information to Christoph Blocher, vice president of the SVP,[7] and Blocher was one of the lead voices calling for Hildebrand's resignation after the disclosure.[21] Die Zeit in a strongly worded commentary downplayed any wrongdoing on Hildebrand's part, stressing the evidence was "stolen" and the resignation came only "to maintain credibility" of SNB.[4]

Hildebrand announced his resignation on January 9, 2012 stating that “Credibility is a central banker’s most valuable asset,” and that the accusations came “during a time when total focus is needed on the duties.” He also resigned his posts at the Bank for International Settlements and the International Monetary Fund.[6] He issued a statement that included copies of E-Mails between his wife, himself, and his banker, showing that he was aware of the controversial trade shortly after the order had been given by his wife, but failed to request that it be immediately cancelled.[22]

Hildebrand was succeeded by vice chairman and interim SNB head Thomas Jordan.[23]

On 7 March an independent audit by KPMG of financial transactions by all members of the governing board of the bank found no breach of regulations occurred.[24]

Later career edit

In 2012, Hildebrand was a senior visiting fellow at Oxford University’s Blavatnik School of Government.[25]

In 2020, the Swiss government nominated Hildebrand as its candidate to succeed Angel Gurría in the position of Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) for a five-year term.[26][27][28] By February 2021, he withdrew his candidacy, citing insufficient levels of support among OECD member countries.[29]

On May 30, 2022 he was elected as a President of the Zürcher Kunstgesellschaft[30] taking office from July 1, 2022.[31]

Other activities edit

Recognition edit

  • 2011 – "Central Bank Governor of the Year 2012", awarded by The Banker[36]

Personal life edit

Hildebrand was a member of the Swiss national swimming team in the 1980s, and he was Swiss national champion in 1983 and 1984.[37]

He was married to Kashya Mahmood-Hildebrand till May 2013.[38]

Until 2022, his partner was Margarita Louis-Dreyfus, the Russian-born Swiss billionaire businesswoman, chairman of Louis Dreyfus and the former owner of Olympique de Marseille football team.[39] She gave birth to their twins daughters Isabella and Arina on 20 March 2016.[40]

Philipp married Kimberley Julius in 2024.

References edit

  1. ^ "Philipp Hildebrand: Vice Chairman", blackrock.com. Retrieved 2017-01-12.
  2. ^ a b c d Jochelle Mendonca, Emma Thomasson and Sinead Cruise (June 13, 2012), Former Swiss central bank head to join BlackRock Reuters.
  3. ^ a b Wille, Klaus; Freedman, Jennifer M. (January 9, 2012). "Hildebrand Quits as Swiss National Bank Chief after Wife's Currency Trade". Bloomberg.
  4. ^ a b "Ein Rücktritt sorgt für Glaubwürdigkeit: Kampagne gegen Hildebrand", Die Zeit, n.d. Headline translation (Google): "A withdrawal ensures credibility: Campaign against Hildebrand"; introduction (transl'n; page ("seite") 1): "The head of the Swiss National Bank withdraws. Not because he has violated laws, but to preserve its credibility. a comment". Per the (modestly competent machine) translation of the full page two, the word "smear" or apparent equivalent is not used.
  5. ^ "Swiss National Bank (SNB) - Members of the Governing Board from 1907 onwards" (PDF). www.snb.ch.
  6. ^ a b Ewing, Jack (2012-01-09). "Swiss Central Bank Chief Tenders Surprise Resignation". New York Times. Retrieved 2012-01-09.
  7. ^ a b Goodman, David and Klaus Wille, "Swiss Franc Declines to Three-Week Low Versus Dollar; Hildebrand Will Stay", Bloomberg.com, January 5, 2012 11:15 am ET. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
  8. ^ "Annual Report 2010". SNB. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  9. ^ Danthine, Jean Pierre. "Swiss monetary policy in the public eye" (PDF). Speech at the Money Market Event Zurich, 24 March 2011. SNB. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  10. ^ "Resurgent Swiss franc seems unstoppable". Financial Times. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
  11. ^ "Nationalbank: Mit unruhiger Hand". BILANZ (#15, 2011). Retrieved 2011-08-26.
  12. ^ a b Joly, David (2011-09-06). "Swiss Central Bank Acts to Put a Cap on Franc's Rise". New York Times. Retrieved 2012-01-09.
  13. ^ Wearden, Graeme (September 6, 2011). "Swiss bid to peg 'safe haven' franc to the euro stuns currency traders". Guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-05-01.
  14. ^ Artus, Patrick (September 21, 2011). "Can currency pegs succeed?". Natixis Economic research #680. Retrieved 2012-05-01.
  15. ^ Longchamp, Yves (November 10, 2011). "Don't fight the Swiss National Bank". Pictet Perspectives. Retrieved 2012-05-01.
  16. ^ a b Poinsot, Nicolas (January 6, 2012). "Kashya Hildebrand, l'art et la devise". Les quotidiennes: un regard audacieux de femmes sur l’actualité (in French). Geneva, Switzerland: Edipresse Publications SA. lesquotidiennes.com. Archived from the original on February 8, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2012. Une semaine après les premières révélations dans la presse alémanique, l'onde de choc de l'affaire Philipp Hildebrand se ressent encore et augure sans doute un véritable feuilleton judiciaire. Au mois de décembre dernier, Kashya Hildebrand, l'épouse du banquier, jusqu'ici retranchée au second plan, fait soudain les gros titres, suite aux accusations de l'homme fort de l'UDC : Christoph Blocher
  17. ^ a b Jordans, Frank, "Swiss central bank chief won’t resign over private dollar deals, regrets letting wife prevail", Associated Press via Global News, January 5, 2012. Retrieved 2017-01-15.
  18. ^ Clark, Andrew, "Swiss bank chief hits out at ‘smears’" (opening paragraphs/subscription for more), The Times, January 6, 2012. Retrieved 2017-01-15.
  19. ^ a b Aldrick, Philip, 'Switzerland's central bank chairman denies accusations of insider trading', The Daily Telegraph, January 6, 2012, B1.
  20. ^ Mir, Meritxell, "'Something rotten in Switzerland': Blocher" Archived 2012-09-12 at archive.today, The Local, 9 January 2012 11:46 GMT+1 as updated. Retrieved 2012-01-09.
  21. ^ Hildebrand, Philipp (9 January 2012), Statement (PDF), Swiss National Bank, retrieved 2012-12-01
  22. ^ Watts, William L., "Jordan: Won't tolerate test of Swiss franc ceiling", MarketWatch, February 7, 2012. Retrieved 2012-02-07.
  23. ^ "KPMG audit clears SNB governing board", swissinfo.ch, March 7, 2012.
  24. ^ "Profile of Dr Philipp Hildebrand on the BSG website", Oxford web page, n.d.
  25. ^ Christoph Eisenring (October 29, 2020), Hildebrand für die OECD: Der ehemalige Spitzenschwimmer hat einen Marathon vor sich Neue Zürcher Zeitung.
  26. ^ John Miller and John Revill (October 28, 2020), Swiss nominate ex-SNB head Hildebrand for OECD leadership post Reuters.
  27. ^ OECD announces candidates for next Secretary-General Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), press release of November 2, 2020.
  28. ^ Peter A. Fischer (February 25, 2021), Philipp Hildebrand zieht seine Kandidatur für das Amt des OECD-Generalsekretärs zurück Neue Zürcher Zeitung.
  29. ^ Thomas Ribi (31 May 2022). "Streit um die Sammlung Bührle: Ex-Nationalbankpräsident Philipp Hildebrand übernimmt am Kunsthaus Zürich" (in German). Neue Zürcher Zeitung. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  30. ^ Björn Quellenberg (31 May 2022). "Zürcher Kunstgesellschaft wählt Dr. Philipp M. Hildebrand zum Präsidenten" (PDF) (in German). Kunsthaus Zürich. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  31. ^ International Advisory Board Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford.
  32. ^ Board of Trustees: Philipp Hildebrand British Museum.
  33. ^ International Leadership Council University of Toronto.
  34. ^ Jack Ewing (January 9, 2012), Swiss Central Bank Chief Resigns After Uproar New York Times.
  35. ^ "Central Bank Governor of the Year 2012 - Global and Americas" (free registration required), 19/12/2011. Hildebrand's name not used with non-registered access.
  36. ^ Gapper, John (January 14, 2012). "The dollar lifestyle of the Swiss central banker". Financial Times. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  37. ^ ""No comment" de Philipp Hildebrand sur sa vie privée". Le Temps (in French). 2013-11-05. ISSN 1423-3967. Retrieved 2023-03-25.
  38. ^ "Louis Dreyfus Chairwoman, Pregnant With Twins, Plans Leave". Bloomberg. 4 January 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  39. ^ Gus Trompiz (March 21, 2016), Commodities tycoon Margarita Louis-Dreyfus gives birth to twins Reuters.
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