OLB has completed the reconstitution of its Management Board effective 1 October 2026, finalizing appointments that were previously announced and coordinated with supervisory authorities. The changes bring new leadership to key executive roles and signal a strategic alignment as the bank, now directly supervised by the European Central Bank, seeks to advance its business in Germany and beyond.
The Supervisory Board appointed Michael Fust as Chief Financial Officer. Fust succeeds Dr Rainer Polster, who left the bank upon the expiry of his mandate on 30 September 2026. Fust had served as General Representative of OLB since January 2026 and previously spent around 16 years with KPMG before joining TARGO Deutschland GmbH as Head of Finance in July 2016. His deep financial expertise is expected to ensure continuity in the bank's financial management and reporting.
Annett Daldrup was appointed Chief Risk Officer. She had been acting as a General Representative of OLB since July 2026 and also served as a General Representative of TARGO Deutschland GmbH since March 2026. Daldrup joined TARGOBANK in January 2025 as Chief Credit Officer Corporate Lending, where she was responsible for credit risk management in the corporate banking business. Her prior roles at Airbus Bank GmbH and UniCredit Bank AG underline her extensive risk management background. Her appointment comes at a time when effective risk oversight is critical for banks navigating a complex economic environment.
Chris Eggert, previously Chief Risk Officer, has assumed the role of Chief Investment Officer. He is now responsible for cash flow-based financing activities within the Corporates & Diversified Lending segment, which includes Corporates, Acquisition Finance, Football Finance, Fund Finance, Export Finance, and Financing Solutions. Eggert, who was appointed Chief Risk Officer in June 2022 and had headed Credit Risk Management since 2018, is expected to drive the expansion of this business area, leveraging his deep market knowledge and client relationships.
With these appointments, OLB's Management Board now consists of Christophe Jehan (Chief Executive Officer), Annett Daldrup (Chief Risk Officer), Chris Eggert (Chief Investment Officer), Michael Fust (Chief Financial Officer), and Dr Andreas Houben (Chief Sales Officer). Christian Bessenroth, a General Representative since April 2026, completes the Management Team and is responsible for asset-based financing activities within the Corporates & Diversified Lending segment, reporting to Chris Eggert. Bessenroth joined OLB in October 2021 as Head of Corporate Real Estate & International Diversified Lending and previously worked for BAWAG Group.
“With its proven leadership and complementary areas of expertise, OLB’s Management Team is ideally positioned to lead the Bank into its next phase of development,” said Isabelle Chevelard, Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board of OLB. The completion of these appointments provides clarity and stability at the top of the organization, which is crucial for executing OLB's strategy. As a universal bank with a nationwide presence in Germany and more than 150 years of history in north-west Germany, OLB serves about one million customers through its OLB and Bankhaus Neelmeyer brands. With total assets exceeding EUR 30 billion, it became a significant financial institution at the beginning of 2025 and has since been directly supervised by the European Central Bank. Since January 2026, OLB has been owned by TARGO Deutschland GmbH, part of the cooperative Credit Mutuel Alliance Federale, one of Europe's largest and financially strongest banking groups.
The leadership changes are likely to reinforce OLB's strategic focus on its two core business areas: Private & Business Customers and Corporates & Diversified Lending. The bank operates a network of 80 branches and employs around 1,700 people. For customers, the continuity provided by these internal appointments—particularly the promotion of individuals already familiar with the bank—should ensure minimal disruption. For the market, the appointments signal a commitment to stability and growth under the new ownership structure. More information about OLB can be found at www.olb.de and www.neelmeyer.de, as well as on social media platforms such as Facebook and YouTube. The original release is available on www.newmediawire.com.
