Marguerite Bérard, CEO of Dutch lender ABN Amro, is pushing through a major transformation that includes cutting 20% of the bank's workforce over three years. The French banker, who joined last year from BNP Paribas, is focused on reducing costs and boosting profits to keep the state-backed bank competitive. Her strategy includes increasing fee income and reallocating capital.

Bérard's overhaul comes as ABN Amro, the third-largest bank in the Netherlands, faces pressure to improve its return on equity, which trails some European peers. The bank reported €2.25 billion in full-year net profit for 2025, slightly down from the previous year. Bérard is betting on AI adoption to drive efficiency, taking an unusual approach by requiring employees to use their own training budgets to access tools like Microsoft Copilot.

Beyond internal changes, Bérard is sounding alarms about Europe's banking sector. She warns that excessive regulation and low risk appetite are hampering growth, arguing that stability comes at a cost. With Europe increasingly isolated geopolitically, she believes strong banks and economies are essential for the continent to maintain influence. As one of few women leading major European lenders, Bérard is also advocating for more diversity in executive positions while maintaining a balanced approach to workplace policies.