The Board of Directors of Kvika banki has appointed Jón Birgir Jónsson as CEO of the Bank. Jón Birgir will assume the role on 1 December, succeeding Ármann Þorvaldsson, who announced earlier this year his intention to step down.

Jón Birgir brings extensive experience from international financial markets, having spent most of his career in London and New York with two of the world’s leading asset management firms.

From 2013 to 2025, Jón Birgir worked at Neuberger Berman in London, where he was a partner and held a senior management position. He joined the firm to strengthen its global fixed income capabilities and subsequently became increasingly involved in relationships with professional and institutional investors. Prior to that, he worked at J.P. Morgan Asset Management from 1998, both in New York and London, as a portfolio manager specialising in fixed income and global interest rate markets.

Jón Birgir holds a BSc in Mathematics from the University of Iceland and a Master’s degree in Financial Engineering from New York University. Despite spending much of his career abroad, he has maintained strong ties with the Icelandic business community, including through his role as a board member of the British-Icelandic Chamber of Commerce.

Sigurður Hannesson, Chairman of the Board of Kvika banki:

“We are very pleased to welcome Jón Birgir to Kvika’s strong team. His extensive experience in financial markets and strong international network will be valuable as we continue to develop and grow the Bank.

Kvika has grown and evolved rapidly in recent years and today has a diversified business with exciting opportunities for further growth and development, both in Iceland and in the UK, where we have successfully built a profitable operation. Jón Birgir’s extensive financial markets experience and strong international network are well aligned with the opportunities ahead for Kvika.

I would also like to thank Ármann Þorvaldsson for his important contribution to Kvika. Under his leadership, the Bank has grown significantly and developed a strong and diversified business. Ármann, together with all the talented employees who have contributed to this journey, deserves considerable credit for these achievements.”

Jón Birgir Jónsson, incoming CEO of Kvika banki:

“First and foremost, I am proud and grateful for the trust placed in me. This is an incredibly exciting opportunity, and the Bank is exceptionally well positioned for continued growth, with a strong infrastructure, a robust balance sheet and outstanding employees. Our objective is, and will remain, to provide our clients with high-quality financial services.”