As we mark the 200th episode of the Leaders in Finance Podcast, we are honoured to welcome Mikael Björknert.
Mikael Björknert became CEO of PrivatBank on 20 January 2025. He now leads Ukraine’s largest state owned bank, serving more than 18 million active customers, with over 70% of Ukrainians using its services.
He brings more than 25 years of experience in the financial sector. Before taking the helm at PrivatBank in Kyiv, he held several senior leadership positions at Swedbank, including Head of Swedish Banking, where he was responsible for one of the bank’s core business areas. He also served as Chairman of Bankgirot and as a board member of Nasdaq in Sweden.
Mikael holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Uppsala University. He is 59 years old, lives in Kyiv, and is married with two children.
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Leaders in Finance is made possible by the support of EY, Mogelijk Vastgoedfinancieringen, and Lepaya. More information about our partners is available at our partner page.
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Books mentioned in this episode:
The Gates of Europe, Serhii Plokhy
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The conversations from Leaders in Finance are transcribed to make the podcast accessible to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as to those who prefer reading over listening: Mikael Björknert (transcript)
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Previous guests on the Leaders in Finance podcast include: Klaas Knot (President DNB), Frank Elderson (Executive Board, ECB), Roland Boekhout (CEO ASN Bank), Gerrit Zalm (former Minister of Finance and former CEO of ABN AMRO), Ingrid de Swart (member of the Executive Board, a.s.r.), Pinar Abay (Management Board ING, Head of Retail Banking), Robert Swaak (CEO ABN AMRO), Marcel Zuidam (CEO NN Bank), Saul van Beurden (CEO Consumer, Small & Business Banking, Wells Fargo), David Knibbe (CEO NN Group), Janine Vos (Executive Board, Rabobank), Nadine Klokke (CEO Knab), Maarten Edixhoven (CEO Van Lanschot Kempen), Jeroen Rijpkema (CEO Triodos Bank), Nout Wellink (former President DNB), Onno Ruding (former minister of finance), Yoram Schwarz (CEO Movir), Laura van Geest (Executive Board, AFM), Katja Kok (CEO Van Lanschot CH), Ali Niknam (CEO bunq), Nick Bortot (CEO BUX), Petri Hofsté (supervisory board member, including at Rabobank and Achmea), Peter Paul de Vries (CEO Value8), Barbara Baarsma (CEO Rabo Carbon Bank), Jan van Rutte (C supervisory board member, including at Rabobank and Achmea), Marguerite Soeteman-Reijne (Chair Aon Holdings), Lidwin van Velden (CEO Nederlandse Waterschapsbank), Jan-Willem van der Schoot (CEO Mastercard NL), Joanne Kellermann (Chair PFZW), Steven Maijoor (former Chair ESMA), Radboud Vlaar (CEO Finch Capital), Jos Baeten (CEO a.s.r.), Karin van Baardwijk (CEO Robeco), Annette Mosman (CEO APG).
