Berlin’s digital bank N26 has filled its final leadership vacancy, tapping a veteran of Germany’s traditional banking sector as chief financial officer. Marc Hess, who spent more than a decade as finance chief at Postbank and six years in the same role at Aareal Bank, steps into the position this week once regulators sign off.
The appointment completes a sweeping management overhaul at the fintech. Since April, chief executive Mike Dargan, formerly of UBS, has systematically replaced the startup’s founding leadership with executives from established lenders. N26 co-founder Valentin Stalf had already retreated from day-to-day operations in summer 2025.
The restructuring extends far beyond the CFO’s office. Aytac Aydin arrived from Oldenburgische Landesbank in July to oversee technology, operations and legal. Marcin Pakulnicki left ING in September to become chief technology officer. Nathalie Picquot joined from Banco Santander in October as chief growth and marketing officer. Meanwhile, Daniel Lappas, an N26 employee since 2022, earned a promotion to chief product and business officer.
Hess succeeds Arnd Schwierholz, who departed at the end of August shortly after N26 posted its first annual profit. The bank recorded net income of €1.6 million in 2025, a dramatic swing from the €42 million loss reported the prior year. Revenue reached €501.6 million, while paying customers grew to 5.6 million.
Yet regulatory troubles persist. Germany’s financial watchdog BaFin imposed fresh restrictions in December 2025 over deficiencies in risk management, complaint handling and lending practices. Those measures include higher capital requirements and an external monitor.
Hess called the moment “a new phase” for N26. Dargan framed the hire as crucial to building what the company bills as Europe’s most trusted digital bank. The firm, founded in 2013 by Austrians Stalf and Maximilian Tayenthal, now operates across 24 markets with roughly 1,600 employees. Competition, however, grows fiercer by the quarter. N26 battles Revolut, Trade Republic and Monzo for European consumers, while reports suggest Latin American giant Nubank may pursue a Monzo acquisition.
