Erste Group Bank AG: Willi Cernko appointed as new CEO

Vienna (pta043/15.06.2022/20:45 UTC+2)

• Supervisory Board appoints Cernko as CEO as of 1 July 2022

At an extraordinary meeting held today, the Supervisory Board of Erste Group appointed Willi Cernko as the new CEO of Erste Group Bank AG effective 1 July 2022. As CEO, Cernko succeeds Bernd Spalt, who had previously announced that he would not seek a renewal of his contract. Cernko will also assume the function of Chief Retail Officer for the banking group. His position as the Chief Corporates Officer at Erste Bank Oesterreich will be filled.

"I am very pleased that in Willi Cernko we have found a CEO for Erste Group who is very close to our customers, brings a great deal of experience and is extremely well connected. With the extensive international experience he has in our core markets of Central and Eastern Europe, Willi is the right person to firmly establish Erste Group as a Financial Health Company. The Group's strategy is clear and I am sure that Willi will be a very active CEO with clear-cut ideas on how to lead our company into a bright future," explains Friedrich Rödler, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Erste Group.

"At the same time, I would like to express my sincere thanks to Bernd Spalt for his excellent performance in various functions in our group over many years. The very good results of the past few years and Bernd's personal integrity will always serve as points of reference for us. On behalf of the Supervisory Board, I wish Bernd all the very best for his future," says Rödler.

"I am taking over the chairmanship of a banking group that is excellently managed and strongly positioned -- and I am very happy about assuming this new task. Our future strategic goal is to become a Financial Health Company. Now it's time to get down to concrete work. The financial health of our customers will be at the center of all our activities," Willi Cernko says of his goal.

Willi Cernko has been the Chief Corporates Officer in the Management Board of Erste Bank Oesterreich since 2019. He was a member of the Management Board of Erste Group from 2017 to 2019. Before joining Erste, Cernko was CEO of UniCredit Bank Austria AG and spent more than 20 years in many different management roles at Bank Austria, HypoVereinsbank and in the UniCredit Group. In addition to his proven expertise in corporate and retail banking, Cernko also has very broad experience in Erste Group's core markets. His current term of office with Erste remains unaffected and runs until 31 December 2024.

The Management Board of Erste Group – as of 1 July 2022

• Willi Cernko, CEO and Chief Retail Officer
• Stefan Dörfler, CFO
• Alexandra Habeler-Drabek, CRO
• Ingo Bleier, Chief Corporates and Markets Officer
• David O'Mahony, COO
• Maurizio Poletto, Chief Platform Officer

The Management Board of Erste Bank Oesterreich – as of 1 July 2022

• Gerda Holzinger-Burgstaller, CEO and Chief Retail Officer
• Stefan Dörfler, CFO
• Alexandra Habeler-Drabek, CRO
• Willi Cernko, Chief Corporates Officer until a replacement is selected

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Emitter:	Erste Group Bank AG Am Belvedere 1 1100 Wien Austria
Contact Person:	Thomas Sommerauer / Gerald Krames
Phone:	+43 (0)50100-17326
E-Mail:	investor.relations@erstegroup.com
Website:	www.erstegroup.com
ISIN(s):	AT0000652011 (Share)
Stock Exchange(s):	Vienna Stock Exchange (Official Trade)
Other Stock Exchanges:	Bucharest Stock Exchange, Prague Stock Exchange