Banking Forum 2025: Future proofing the profession in a rapidly changing world
Strengthen your IA function for tomorrow’s challenges at the ECIIA Banking Forum 2025! Join us…
The Banking Committee aims to be the consolidated voice for the profession of internal auditing in the Banking Sector in Europe and a respected partner for the European regulatory bodies. They represent and develop the internal audit profession and good corporate governance by providing feedback from auditing practice in European banks.
Strengthen your IA function for tomorrow’s challenges at the ECIIA Banking Forum 2025! Join us…
In its recent Opinion (CON/2025/10) on proposed changes to corporate sustainability reporting and due diligence…
https://youtu.be/pqIGyCFyiMY Second edition of our banking-focused EU update – exclusively for Chief Audit Executives Join…
European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has just released its Guidelines on Enforcement of Sustainability…
The European Central Bank (ECB) has recently published a report outlining the EU’s approach to…
The European Banking Authority (EBA) has published a new report assessing how financial institutions are…
Jonathan is currently Managing Director, Chief Internal Auditor for Barclays Europe having worked as a Chief Auditor for the last 12 years across a number of large international banks, including 8 years within the NatWest Banking group prior to joining Barclays Bank.
Jonathan is a career internal auditor of 25 years after qualifying as a Chartered Accountant and has worked across many different countries, including North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.
Jonathan has a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics (BSc) from Queens University Belfast and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Manchester Business School. He is also a Fellow (FCA) of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland.
Maria Rontogianni has over 25 years of professional experience in senior and executive management positions in both the financial services and the telecommunications industries. Over the course of her career she has successfully met the challenges and embraced the opportunities of working in both the US and European markets. Her expertise is in internal auditing and has held several roles including that of regulator, consultant and internal auditor. She is a talented communicator, an accomplished public speaker, coach and motivator. Maria’s ability to design strategies and execute them has distinguished her as an effective leader across cultures and industries.
Alexandre Maymat was appointed Head of the Inspection and Audit division in July 2023. Alexandre Maymat began his career in the French Ministry ofthe Economy and Finance in 1992, and then worked at the European Union.
He joined Societe Generale group in 2001 in the General Inspection department, then moved to the French retail banking division heading the Corporate Business Centre of the Regional Directorate of Paris Bourse in 2004, then becoming in 2006 as Regional Head for Franche Comté. In 2009, he became Director and CEO of Société Générale de Banques au Cameroun.
In 2012, Alexandre Maymat was appointed Deputy Head of International Retail Banking before becoming Head of International Retail Banking for Africa, the Mediterranean Basin & Overseas in 2013. Alexandre Maymat was appointed Head of Global Transaction and Payment Services in September 2019. Alexandre Maymat is a graduate of the Ecole Polytechnique and the École Nationale de Statistiques et d’Administration Économique.
Sakari Lehtinen has been the Chief Audit Executive of OP Financial Group since 2019, bringing over 25 years of experience in internal auditing within the financial sector. Throughout his career, he has held various leadership roles in internal audit, including Deputy CAE and Senior Vice President at OP, where he has been a key figure since 2002. His earlier roles include positions at Sampo Bank, PSP Finance Ltd, and OKO Bank, where he gained expertise in credit risk, customer service, and internal controls.
Sakari holds a Master of Science in Business Administration from the Helsinki School of Economics. He has also played a prominent role in advancing the internal audit profession in Finland, having served both as a board member and chairman of IIA Finland. His deep understanding of financial services, risk management, and audit practices make him a respected voice in the field, both nationally and across Europe.
Francisco is the Chief Audit Executive and Deputy General Manager at Bankinter Group since 2016 and a member of the Council of the Spanish Institute of Internal Auditors since 2019. He has developed most of his professional career at Bankinter, occupying various positions of responsibility. After being Head of the International Division for more than 7 years, in 2006 he became Chief Operating Officer (COO). In 2012 he became Human Resources Director, and in 2016 he was appointed as Chief Audit Executive for the Bankinter Group, including all subsidiaries in Spain, Portugal, Luxembourg, and Ireland.
Francisco has a Bachelor of Law, a Master of “Management of International Trade” degree, a Master of “On-Line business” degree, and has developed some Leadership Programs. He is also a lecturer at different Business Schools, participating in several Master Programs. In addition, is a COSO ERM and Certified Business Controller.
Dr Rachel Barlow joins ECIIA in July 2025 as their new CEO.
Educated as a lawyer and with a background in association leadership, Rachel is a Senior Adviser to the European Policy Centre and a former Professor of lobbying at the Brussels School of Governance.
A self-confessed governance geek, Rachel relishes rendering complex organisations more effective so that they can better serve their members and fulfil their respective missions. She has more recently worked as a headhunter for executive not for profit roles and with Boards of NGOs and Foundations to advise on Public Affairs and craft Codes of Conduct and Terms of Reference.
As a former Vice President of Kellen Europe (an association management company), Rachel has led, created, managed, advised and represented European and International multi-level organisations throughout her 25-year career.
Brussels based, Rachel is British and Belgian. She speaks fluent French and Italian.
Virpi Vuorinen is the Chief Audit Executive at ING, leading the bank’s internal audit function. She brings over 25 years of experience in internal audit and financial services, with deep expertise in audit strategy, governance, and cross-border team leadership.
Before joining ING, Virpi spent nearly 26 years at Nordea, where she held several senior roles within Group Internal Audit. As Chief Audit Executive at Nordea, she led a team of 220 auditors across eight countries, covering the entire group and its subsidiaries. She also served as Head of Operations and Country Manager for Group Internal Audit in Finland, playing a key role in driving strategic development, regulatory interaction, and operational excellence.
Virpi holds a Master of Arts in International and Global Studies from Griffith University and is a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and Certified in Control Self-Assessment (CCSA).
Claudio serves as Chief Audit Officer at Intesa Sanpaolo since 2015.
After earning a degree in Economics and Business from the University of Turin, he joined Nuovo Banco Ambrosiano in 1987, where he served as an Internal Auditor, taking on increasing responsibilities across various operational areas. In 1996, he became Audit Manager for the Administration and Services Division at Banco Ambrosiano Veneto. In 1999, he was appointed Audit Manager for the Industrial Integration Program between Banca Intesa and Banca Commerciale Italiana, and later, in 2003, he became Head of the Audit Planning and Control Area at Banca Intesa. At Intesa Sanpaolo, he was appointed Head of the Audit Coordination and Development Service in 2007, a role he held until July 2015 when he became Group Head of Internal Auditing. In 2018, the role evolved into Chief Audit Officer.
He is Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Italian Association of Internal Auditors and represents Italy on the ECIIA Banking Committee.