Behind every Bernard Group mandate is a board and management team assembled for one purpose: to see what others miss before capital is committed.
Our expertise spans the disciplines on which international transactions are won or lost — banking and structured trade finance, corporate law, compliance, and financial-crime investigation. It is this combination under one roof that allows us to structure a transaction, verify it, and defend our client's position across every stage.
We operate across jurisdictions and cultures, speaking seventeen languages between us, and we hold ourselves to the standard by which institutional counterparties measure those they choose to trust: rigour, discretion, and complete command of the legal frameworks that govern cross-border finance.
We do not compete on scale. We compete on judgement — and on the discipline to apply it to every mandate, without exception.
Marcel V. Bernard founded Bernard Group in 2017 and serves as its Chief Executive Officer. His career in international banking, with positions at Deutsche Bank AG and Continental Illinois National Bank in London, preceded the establishment of the firm and shaped an approach rooted in institutional banking practice.
He directs the firm's strategy, the development of its core business areas and its positioning in international markets, and upholds the standards of rigour, discretion and discipline that govern each mandate, applying them consistently across every engagement the firm undertakes.
Christoph Rey is a Member of the Board of Directors of Bernard Group AG.
He brings extensive international experience in finance, strategic management, and corporate governance. Over the course of his career, Christoph has held senior positions in banking and financial services, where he specialized in risk assessment, deal structuring, and the management of complex cross-border transactions. His expertise spans multiple jurisdictions, with a particular focus on regulatory compliance and the development of sustainable financial strategies.
At Bernard Group AG, Christoph Rey plays a pivotal role in shaping the company's long-term strategic direction. He provides valuable oversight on key initiatives, supports the structuring of sophisticated banking instruments, and contributes to strengthening the firm's governance framework and international partnerships. His deep understanding of global financial markets and commitment to the highest professional standards significantly enhance Bernard Group's ability to deliver reliable solutions to its clients.
As Chief Executive Officer, Csaba Szilágyi leads the Bernard Group family of companies across their Hungarian, Slovak and international operations, setting the Group's strategic direction in trade finance and structured banking instruments.
He oversees the Group's cross-border transactions end to end — from origination and structuring through to execution — with a particular focus on documentary credits, standby letters of credit and complex financing arrangements involving Tier-1 banking partners. Under his leadership, the Group has built a reputation for disciplined execution, rigorous compliance and a partner-first approach to every mandate.
Csaba brings a rare combination of commercial vision and operational precision. He is known for a hands-on leadership style, an uncompromising standard on KYC, AML and regulatory integrity, and the ability to bring demanding, multi-jurisdictional deals to a successful close. He works closely with clients, counterparties and banking institutions to ensure that each transaction is structured soundly, documented impeccably and delivered with absolute confidentiality.
Beyond individual mandates, Csaba is responsible for the Group's institutional relationships, its governance framework and its long-term growth — ensuring that Bernard Group continues to operate to the highest standards of Swiss and European banking practice.
As Chief Strategy and Regional Officer, Mikhail Danilovsky shapes Bernard Group AG's strategic direction and drives the expansion of its operations across regional and international markets.
He brings more than two decades of experience as a strategist and senior executive, having led and scaled technology, product and service companies of varying size and complexity. Across his career he has specialised in corporate strategy, business transformation and crisis management — restructuring short- and long-term company strategy, preparing organisations for investment, and guiding them through demanding phases of growth and change.
Mikhail has a strong track record in building and managing multi-country operations, having opened and run regional and international offices and launched initiatives across several European and international markets. He is known for structuring transparent management and reporting systems, establishing early-warning mechanisms for risk, and forging durable partnerships with leading institutions and corporate counterparties.
At Bernard Group AG, he applies this strategic and operational discipline to the Group's growth agenda — identifying new markets and opportunities, strengthening institutional relationships, and ensuring that regional expansion is pursued soundly, with rigorous governance and full alignment with the Group's compliance standards.
Mikhail holds a Master's degree in Information Technology from Saint Petersburg State Polytechnic University, and combines analytical rigour with a hands-on, goal-oriented leadership style focused on measurable results.
Steven Mununga serves as Head of the African Department at Bernard Group AG.
A recognized expert in African markets and international finance, Steven drives the company's growth across the continent. He combines extensive regional knowledge with global financial acumen to structure complex transactions, develop strategic partnerships, and deliver bespoke solutions in trade finance, project financing, and banking instruments.
His outstanding relationship-building capabilities and deep understanding of both local realities and international standards have established him as a key figure in connecting African opportunities with global capital. Under his leadership, Bernard Group continues to strengthen its presence and reputation as a trusted partner across Africa.
Tangeni Andreas serves as Investor Relations Manager for the Africa region at Bernard Group AG.
He brings extensive international experience in investor relations and project development, having successfully coordinated major energy and infrastructure projects across Spain, India, and Namibia. His expertise spans stakeholder engagement, capital raising, and the structuring of cross-border investment opportunities.
Tangeni is highly regarded for his deep understanding of African markets, strong analytical skills, and ability to build long-term strategic relationships with investors, financial institutions, and project partners. His dedication to fostering sustainable economic development and international cooperation makes him a valuable asset to the Bernard Group team and a key contributor to the company's expansion across the African continent.
Edward Grobmann is responsible for client relations at Bernard Group AG, serving as the key link between the Group's clients, counterparties and its internal structuring and compliance teams.
Prior to joining Bernard Group AG, Edward worked at Commerzbank AG (Germany), in its corporate-client division — Firmenkunden — Trade & Corporate Clients (Frankfurt am Main) — where he supported business clients on trade finance, documentary operations and corporate banking services. This experience at one of Germany's leading banks gave him a deep understanding of corporate clients' needs and of institutional banking standards.
At Bernard Group, his role is to accompany the client throughout the entire transaction — from the first enquiry and understanding of the requirement, through the coordination of documentation, to final execution. Edward ensures that every client receives clear communication, timely responses and full support across trade-finance instruments — documentary and standby letters of credit and related banking services.
He is known for his attention to detail, reliability and his ability to build long-term relationships of trust. Edward makes sure that each client's expectations are accurately heard and conveyed to the relevant teams, and that every transaction is handled with due diligence, strict KYC/AML discipline and complete confidentiality.
Working closely with the Group's structuring and banking partners, Edward helps clients navigate complex, multi-stage transactions with confidence — upholding Bernard Group AG's reputation as a client-focused partner committed to the highest standards of Swiss banking practice.