Alfred Mettler of Georgia State's Robinson College of Business Appointed to Group Advising Government of Switzerland about Banking Secrecy Issues
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Alfred Mettler | March 18, 2009 - (ATLANTA) - Alfred Mettler, an expert on international banking and finance as well as an associate professor in the Department of Finance at Georgia State's Robinson College of Business, has been appointed to a group advising the government of Switzerland on how to respond to mounting global pressure that it allow other nations to access data about their citizens' investments in Swiss banks – a demand at odds with the nation's entrenched bank secrecy laws.
Although Switzerland is not the only country facing such demands in light of the worldwide financial crisis, it is the highest profile. In February, UBS AG (UBS) settled a U.S. cross-border case with the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Moreover, greater oversight of offshore accounts in Switzerland and elsewhere will be the focus of the April 2 summit of the Group of 20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (G-20) – a forum comprising 19 emerging market and industrialized nations and the European Union (EU). Switzerland, which is not a member of the EU, has requested a seat at the London summit but has not been invited to attend.
The task force of which Mettler is a member first convened in Switzerland's capital city of Bern on March 10 and will continue to meet regularly in the run-up to the G-20 summit. Mettler is one of five external experts serving on the advisory group. Three, including Mettler, are academicians. The other two represent the nation's independent central bank and its banking association. In addition to Mettler, the members are:
- Jens Drolshammer, professor of American law and legal transaction planning and structuring, University of St. Gallen
- Philipp Hildebrand, vice chairman of the governing board, Swiss National Bank
- Xavier Oberson, professor of tax law, University of Geneva
- Urs P. Roth, CEO, Swiss Bankers Association
The group includes eight members of Switzerland's Federal Administration who represent its departments of foreign affairs, economic affairs, finance and justice. Also among their number is the ambassador of the Swiss Mission to the European Union.
- Ambassador Manuel Sager, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (group chair)
- State Secretary Michael Ambühl, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
- State Secretary Jean-Daniel Gerber, Federal Department of Economic Affairs
- Jürg Giraudi, International Division of the Federal Tax Administration, Federal Department of Finance
- Ambassador Alexander Karrer, Monetary Affairs and International Finance Division, Federal Department of Finance
- Michael Leupold, director, Federal Office of Justice, Federal Department of Justice and Police
- Peter Siegenthaler, Federal Finance Administration, Federal Department of Finance
- Ambassador Jacques de Watteville, Swiss Mission to the European Union, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
Mettler, who holds a Ph.D. in finance from the University of Zurich, joined the faculty of Georgia State's Robinson College of Business in 1998. In addition to his expertise in international banking and finance, he specializes in risk management of financial institutions, equity/debt financing of corporations, enterprise risk management applications and the management of credit risk exposures.
He is a permanent member of the faculty of the Swiss Finance Institute and has consulted for many corporations and municipalities. Mettler is a dual citizen of Switzerland and the United States.
Editor's Note
Mettler is available to discuss Swiss banking secrecy laws, recent U.S. action, growing international demand for greater transparency, and the mission and structure of the expert group of which he is a member. He will not comment on the content of the expert group's discussions and its recommendations to the Federal Council of Switzerland.
| Contact |
Jenifer Shockley
Robinson College of Business/External Affairs
jshockley@gsu.edu
O: 404-413-7078
M: 404-644-0251 |
Gary McKillips
Robinson College of Business/External Affairs
mckillips@gsu.edu
O: 404-413-7077
M: 678-644-9032 |
The largest business school in the South and part of a major research institution, the J. Mack Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University is located in Atlanta, an epicenter of business and a gateway to the world. With programs on four continents and students from 150 countries, the College is both worldwide and world class. Its part-time MBA program is ranked number five in the nation and has been in the top 10 for 13 consecutive years. The College has 200 faculty, 7,400 students and 65,000 alumni. Noted for an emphasis on educating leaders, the Robinson College and Georgia State have produced more of Georgia's top executives with graduate degrees than any other school in the nation. |
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