Ida, a seasoned professional in banking and finance with experience at both global and Nordic financial institutions, recently discussed her decision to join ING. She cited the bank’s focus on technology, innovation, and its growing international presence as key factors that attracted her. “I have followed ING with interest for some time and have been impressed by the bank’s commitment to technology, innovation and in developing its global presence. What stands out to me is ING’s strong values, inclusive culture and ambitious vision, all qualities important to me. The combination of a customer-centric mindset, strong execution capacity, and scalable platform gives ING a unique edge in realising its ambition to become the best European bank. I am excited by the opportunity to contribute to this journey,” she said.
Reflecting on her career path—which has included roles such as stockbroker, relationship manager for large corporates, chief risk officer, and most recently chief financial officer—Ida emphasized her customer focus and willingness to challenge established ways of working. “Throughout my career in banking, I’ve held a variety of roles – from stockbroker and relationship manager for large corporates to chief risk officer and, most recently chief financial officer. Across all these positions, I have brought a strong customer focus and a genuine curiosity to challenge the status quo. I strongly believe that the biggest risks larger organisations face are complacency and lack of ability to renew itself. I therefore believe it’s important to always stay ahead, be able to identify what is happening around us and to interpret how that impacts us short-term as well as long-term. I hope my analytical approach combined with experience from highly digital Nordic markets will bring some added value to the ING team.”
On leadership style, Ida described herself as authentic and inclusive: “I am an authentic and inclusive leader – I thrive on building strong, diverse teams where people feel empowered to contribute. I am result-oriented and transparent; what you see is what you get. While I am comfortable making decisions independently, I believe the best outcomes come from leveraging the collective expertise of the team. Few things are more rewarding to me than seeing colleagues grow, take on added responsibilities and succeed in that.”
She also explained how her varied experiences inform her current role as CFO: “Each of my previous roles has given me important insight and tools which help me in my CFO role. I believe a strong CFO combines financial expertise with a deep understanding of business and risk management. In banking, taking calculated risk is essential, but they need to be carefully managed and aligned with the overall strategy. Profitability and solidity are a first line of defense. I hope my diverse background helps me to spot both vulnerabilities and untapped opportunities, ensuring resilience and positioning for future growth.”
Addressing industry challenges such as market volatility driven by geopolitical uncertainty or technological change—including competition from fintechs—Ida highlighted ING’s need for adaptability: “Volatility, geopolitical and macro-economic uncertainty have indeed become the ‘new normal’. Especially as banking undergoes rapid transformation driven by changing customer behaviour, entrants of new competitors like fintechs and rapid technological advances such as AI. To stay ahead we must continuously ensure we deliver superior customer propositions at a competitive price. We also need to grow a diversified income base which delivers sound profitability and solidity also in a more volatile macro environment.”
