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Building on strong operational foundations, N26 appoints Michael Steen as Chief Communications Officer ahead of next phase of growth

  • New Chief Communications Officer will join from January 2027, bringing experience leading communications teams at the European Central Bank and Deutsche Bank
  • Appointment marks the latest step in reshaping the digital bank’s management team under CEO Mike Dargan
  • The move will support accelerated growth and primary banking strategy across N26’s core European markets
Berlin, 21 October 2026 – N26 is refocusing on its next phase of growth and maturity: scaling the digital bank’s core markets of Germany, France, Italy and Spain to reinforce its leadership in European digital banking. Six months into Mike Dargan’s tenure as CEO, with strengthened compliance and governance frameworks and a newly established management team in place, N26 will further sharpen its focus on Europe, rolling out a targeted product roadmap to drive customer relevance and primary account growth, starting with the launch of its new signature banking experience, N26 Aura, next month. As part of this plan to drive execution, N26 has appointed Michael Steen as Chief Communications Officer (CCO) effective 1 January 2027. Michael brings extensive experience from Deutsche Bank, where he held the role of Managing Director and Head of External Communications and Newsroom. Prior to that, Michael served in a senior communications position at the European Central Bank. He began his career as a financial journalist for Reuters and the Financial Times. In his role, he will work closely with the management team, in building relevance, resonance and trust among customers as the bank accelerates towards its ambition to be Europe’s Most Trusted Digital Primary Bank. With the appointment of Michael, alongside recently appointed Chief Financial Officer Marc Hess, N26 has taken significant steps in reshaping its management team to start the next chapter.
Mike Dargan, Chief Executive Officer of N26, said, “Building solid regulatory foundations, robust systems and trust at the core of how we operate has been a priority for me since joining N26. With these pillars firmly established, N26 is now well-positioned to accelerate towards our ambitions and deepen our relationships with more customers across Europe as their primary bank.”
Michael Steen, incoming Chief Communications Officer of N26, added, “N26 has redefined modern banking for millions of European consumers. As the company enters this next phase of scale and institutional maturity, transparent communication and strong stakeholder trust must come hand-in-hand with growth. I look forward to working alongside Mike and our management team as we continue to build Europe’s Most Trusted Digital Primary Bank.”
For more information on N26’s leadership team, click here.
About N26N26 is a leading European digital bank operating with a German banking license. Built on a foundation of technology, transparency and trust, the company provides simple, secure, and digital-native banking to millions of customers across 24 markets. Headquartered in Berlin with a strategic presence in major European hubs including Barcelona, Madrid, Milan, Paris and Vienna, the company is powered by a diverse 1,600-strong team representing over 90 nationalities. The company is committed to empowering its customers with financial confidence and control, delivering a best-in-class banking experience designed for the modern era.Website: n26.com | N26 Press Contact: press@n26.com
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