Founder, Redesigning Financial Services, Institute for Customer Insight, University of St. Gallen

Dr. Robert Ruttmann

Robert is Head of the Center for Customer Insight on Financial Services and Sustainability at the University of St. Gallen. He is also the Founder of the new think tank, Redesigning Financial Services, a collaboration between the University of St. Gallen, the ETH and EY, dedicated to accelerating the structural transformation in the financial industry in the interests of the end client. Prior to this, Robert worked in the financial services sector, most recently at Julius Baer, where he led a team of cross-asset strategists in the bank’s Investment Office. Before that, Robert held various positions at Credit Suisse in the Global Investment Products and Strategy Committee Office and Global Research as an equity analyst, strategist, and as a driver of the bank’s sustainable and impact investing offering.

Robert also serves as a lecturer at the University of St. Gallen, teaching finance courses on equity valuation, investing, and an Executive MBA course called “Innovating for Sustainability”. Robert is also a co-founder of Urban Connect AG, a company and focused on developing forward-looking urban mobility solutions with a focus on smart e-bike fleets for corporates, and of Impact Analytics AG, a consultancy with a focus on financial and sustainability analysis.

Finally, Robert serves on the board of trustees to the charity Tech4All, aiming to reduce global poverty through the use of technology. He also serves on the global sustainability advisory panel of CEMEX (2nd largest cement producer), as an Honorary Fellow of the Werthstein Institute, and as a member of the Advisory Panel to the Swiss Federal Council on International Development. Robert holds two masters degrees from the University of St. Gallen, one in Banking and Finance, the other in International Affairs and Governance. His undergraduate degree is in Economics from Bates College, USA. Robert is currently completing a PhD at the University of St. Gallen.