Meet SIX at Sibos 2026

Head Securities Services a.i. and Head Financial Information

Marion Leslie joined SIX Group in January 2020 as Head Financial Information and a member of the SIX Executive Board. Marion was appointed Head Securities Services a.i. in June 2026. As Head Financial Information, Marion Leslie leads the SIX global data business, serving financial institutions worldwide with critical data and insights to support their clients. She also acts as the Executive Board’s sponsor for sustainability initiatives. 

Leading global businesses and operations at scale, with a strong emphasis on data and technology, are the hallmarks of her career in financial services. Prior to joining SIX, Marion Leslie was Managing Director, Enterprise at Refinitiv (London Stock Exchange) with responsibility for delivering market data, platforms and services to the global financial markets. Before that, she held a variety of executive roles within London Stock Exchange Group, having joined Reuters in 1994. Marion Leslie holds a Post Graduate Certificate in Education in French and German from the University of Cambridge. She was named one of the 100 Most Influential Women in European Finance by Financial News every year from 2020-2024, was listed as one of Swiss Finance’s Women to Watch in 2022, and was included in the World Federation of Exchanges Women Leaders List 2021. 

Other Activities and Mandates

• President or Board Member of various SIX Group Ltd companies
• Board Member, Bolsas y Mercados Españoles SA (BME), Madrid
• Board Member, Swiss Sustainable Finance, Zurich
• Board Member, Advance, Zurich

COO Securities Services

Niko Markus Schindler has been COO Securities Services at SIX since September 2025, leading Network Management, Business Development & Strategy, Pricing, Change Delivery, Business Management and Business Excellence for the business unit.  He joined SIX in 2024 as Head Business Strategy and subsequently took on the additional role of Chief of Staff to the CEO, playing a key role in shaping and delivering SIX's strategic and M&A agenda across the Group. 

Niko brings more than 10 years of experience in capital markets, strategy and M&A from Deutsche Börse, Goldman Sachs and Citi.  He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Economics from the University of Amsterdam. 

Since August 2026, Niko has been Chairman of the Board of Directors of both Regis-TR SA and Regis-TR UK, SIX’s Trade Repositories business.

Head Custody

Francisco Bejar Nuñez currently serves as Head Custody. At the same time, he holds the position of Managing Director and Board Member at Iberclear BME, and has been a Board Member of the European Central Securities Depository Association (ECSDA) since 2018. As of 2025, he also chairs the Spanish T+1 Working Group.

Prior to his role at Iberclear BME, Francisco was Head of Clearing, Custody, Settlement, and Corporate Trust Services at BNP Paribas Securities Services Spain, where he led core product offerings, operational management, business development, and product strategy. With over 30 years of experience in the financial industry, beginning his career at J.P. Morgan, he is a recognized leader in the securities post-trade space. Francisco is a frequent speaker at industry events and actively contributes to several national and international market committees, including those of the CNMV, the Bank of Spain, the ECB’s AMI-SeCo Securities Group (SEG), and the consultative Working Group of ESMA’s Post-Trading Standing Committee. Since 2025, he has also been a member of the EU T+1 Industry Committee.

Head Clearing

Michael Gort has been Head of Clearing at SIX since 1 June 2026, leading the clearing business and its strategic development while driving growth and innovation across services.

He joined SIX in 2017 and has held several leadership roles in Product and Business Development within Clearing. Most recently, he served as Head of Business Development & Strategy for Securities Services, and previously held senior positions at SIX x‑clear AG, contributing to key developments across SIX and BME CCPs.

Michael brings deep expertise in clearing services, CCP strategy, and the European regulatory landscape. He holds a Master’s degree in International Affairs and Governance (MIA) from the University of St. Gallen (HSG).

Head Sales and Relationship Management

Urs Walbrecht is Head of Sales & Relationship Management, Securities Services at SIX.

He brings more than 15 years of leadership experience in financial services and asset management, with strong expertise in business development, custody sales, and client relationship management.

Prior to joining SIX, Urs served as CEO of HSBC INKA, where he led a major organizational transformation and delivered large‑scale custody initiatives.

With his strong commercial focus and strategic mindset, Urs plays a key role in further strengthening SIX’s Securities Services offering and long‑term client partnerships.

Head Banking Services

Christoph Müller has been Head Banking Services of SIX since October 2025. He joined SIX in 2019 as Head Debit & ATM and TWINT Processing Services, where he played a key role in reshaping the debit card business model. Before joining SIX, he held various leadership roles across the value chain – from sales and product management to strategy and business development. His career path includes positions at private banks, Credit Suisse Ltd, and UBS Group, as well as co-founder of a fintech startup. A Swiss citizen, Christoph Müller holds an Executive MBA in Management of Technology from EPFL and the University of Lausanne, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Zurich University of Applied Sciences.

Head Strategy, Future Business & Terravis, Banking Services

Dr. Cornelius Dorn is Head of Strategy, Future Business & Terravis for Banking Services at SIX, a role he has held since joining 2026. He brings extensive experience in financial services and technology, having previously served as Head of Global Business Architecture at UBS Wealth Management. Cornelius holds a doctorate from ETH Zurich and graduated from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. At SIX, he plays a key role in shaping the strategic and technological direction of banking services, comprising digital money as well as traditional rails such as A2A, cards etc.

Managing Director, SIX Interbank Clearing, SIC AG

Professional Background / Experience

• Head of Product Management Payments & Debit / Credit Cards / Digital Payment / Cash Management, Zürcher Kantonalbank
• Board Member, SIX Interbank Clearing, SIC AG
• Head of Competence Center Digital Payment & Cards, VSKB
• Associate Partner - Leader Core Banking & Insurance Service Line,
  IBM Global Business Services
  

Education

• Economist, University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland

Head Product & Business Development, Digital Assets

Marco Kessler joined SIX in October 2018 and has been a key member of the team since its beginning. Marco brings 14 years of experience in capital markets and digital transformation to SIX. During his time at Accenture, Marco contributed significantly to large-scale digital transformation programs for global Swiss banks, particularly in wealth management, advisory and core banking segment. His expertise lies at the forefront of innovation, driving the adoption of digital assets in capital markets and financial market infrastructures.
Throughout his career, Marco has specialized in management and technology consulting, with a focus on business architecture for financial services and IT technology strategy. His contributions to SIX have been invaluable, as he continues to play a pivotal role in building the platform from the ground up. Marco’s dedication to driving innovation and his deep understanding of financial markets make him an integral part of the SIX team.