Sofia Merlo is appointed Head of Group Human Resources and a member of BNP Paribas’ Executive Committee

Sofia Merlo is appointed Head of Group Human Resources and a member of BNP Paribas’ Executive Committee. She takes up her position on 2 November 2020, succeeding Yves Martrenchar, who becomes Senior Advisor on that date and who will lead a mission alongside the Group’s General Management until May next year, after which he will retire.

Sofia Merlo began her career in the Group in 1985 working with corporate clients at the head office and running the bank’s business centre for the South-West region in France.

In 2000 she joined the Group’s Human Resources department, where she became Group Head of Career Management in 2004 and notably launched the Group’s diversity and talent-management policies.    

In 2009 Sofia Merlo joined the French Private Banking business and in 2010 was promoted to Head of French Private Banking. She was Co-Head of the Wealth Management business worldwide from 2012 to 2020.

She is a member of the Board of Directors of BNP Paribas Fortis, member of the Board of BMCI in Morocco, and member of the Board of BNP Paribas Polska in Poland.

“I would like to pay tribute to Yves Martrenchar’s decisive work in successfully ensuring the transformation of the Group in terms of anticipating the need for skills, organising new working methods, and enhancing our attractiveness,” said Jean-Laurent Bonnafé, Director and Chief Executive Officer of BNP Paribas. “Since joining the Group, Sofia Merlo has pursued a diversified career path, allowing her to multiply experiences in serving corporate clients, human resources and private banking. I have every confidence in her human qualities and in her good knowledge of the challenges facing the banking sector to support our ongoing transformation and deepen our commitments with regard to our human resources. In the context of a health crisis, the Group’s Human Resources department, under the leadership of Sofia Merlo, will continue to play their central role in ensuring the best organisation, protecting our employees, and also ensuring - as an essential service provider - the proper functioning of our activities in order to serve our customers. ‘

About BNP Paribas

BNP Paribas is a leading bank in Europe with an international reach. It has a presence in 71 countries, with approximately 199,000 employees, of which more than 151,000 in Europe. The Group has key positions in its three main activities: Domestic Markets and International Financial Services (whose retail-banking networks and financial services are covered by Retail Banking & Services) and Corporate & Institutional Banking, which serves two client franchises: corporate clients and institutional investors. The Group helps all its clients (individuals, community associations, entrepreneurs, SMEs, corporates and institutional clients) to realise their projects through solutions spanning financing, investment, savings and protection insurance. In Europe, the Group has four domestic markets (Belgium, France, Italy and Luxembourg) and BNP Paribas Personal Finance is the European leader in consumer lending. BNP Paribas is rolling out its integrated retail-banking model in Mediterranean countries, in Turkey, in Eastern Europe and a large network in the western part of the United States. In its Corporate & Institutional Banking and International Financial Services activities, BNP Paribas also enjoys top positions in Europe, a strong presence in the Americas as well as a solid and fast-growing business in Asia-Pacific.