Ioana Gheorghiade Appointed as Chief Risk Officer in the Board of BCR

Banca Comercială Română (BCR) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ioana Gheorghiade as Chief Risk Officer (CRO) and a member of the bank’s Executive Committee, subject to regulatory approval.

Ioana Gheorghiade brings over two decades of experience in banking and finance (16 years activity in BCR), having developed deep expertise in both client-facing and risk management roles. Early in her career, Ioana Gheorghiade focused on transformational projects in areas such as project finance, green-field investments, and public sector initiatives, where she played a key role in financing large-scale infrastructure projects designed to shape Romania’s future. 

After transitioning to corporate risk management, Ioana Gheorghiade expanded her expertise from individual deal assessments to managing risk at the portfolio level, rounding out her professional profile. Over the past decade, she has been actively engaged in policy dialogue on critical topics such as Romania’s energy strategy, infrastructure development, and EU funds absorption. Her journey also includes a robust focus on digital credit risk processes and sustainability, while obtaining several national banking regulatory authorizations.

Ioana holds an MBA in Finance from Kennesaw State University, a Bachelor’s degree from the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest and the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. In addition, she has completed executive education programs in change management at prestigious institutions such as IESE Business School. 

Manfred Wimmer, Chair of the Supervisory Board at BCR, emphasized Ioana Gheorghiade’s dedication and experience: “Ioana’s long-standing commitment and consistent performance at BCR make her exceptionally well-suited for this critical role. I am confident in her ability to lead and drive the bank’s success.”

Alexandra Habeler-Drabek, Chief Risk Officer of Erste Group, praised Ioana’s approach to risk management: “Ioana’s structured and consistent risk management approach has been key to both sound risk culture and sustainable growth at BCR. Her leadership will continue to ensure robust practices and future development.”

Sergiu Manea, CEO of BCR, highlighted Ioana’s understanding of Romania’s economic landscape:
“Ioana’s deep knowledge of Romania’s economic realities and her vision for risk management make her an invaluable asset to BCR. Her leadership will further strengthen our support for a growing Romania.”