Manuel Meier

Senior Compliance Manager - Compliance & Ethics - Zalando Compliance AmbaZadors - Whistleblower Management - Zalando Payments

Switzerland

About

Legal & Compliance Expert with 12 years’ experience in private banking, asset management and tech, strong in stakeholder management at all levels and leading cross‑functional international compliance for foreign entities, post‑merger integrations, investigations, and the digitalisation of compliance processes in fast‑paced, highly regulated environments.

Experience

  • Senior Compliance Manager at Zalando
    Nov 2021 - Present · 4 yrs 8 mos

    Corporate Compliance Team (formerly Compliance & Business Ethics) and Zalando Payments As a Senior Manager in the Corporate Compliance Team, I lead initiatives to ensure compliance, ethics, and integrity across Zalando Group. Below are examples of my current responsibilities: Compliance Networks Designed, integrated, and maintain Zalando's "Compliance AmbaZador" network to raise awareness of compliance and ethical values across logistics and tech locations in Europe and Asia. Integration of Compliance and Ethics Manage compliance and ethics integration for new and acquired entities, ensuring smooth transitions that meet EU/local legal requirements and ethical standards. Process enhancement Driving projects aimed at improving client-centric compliance processes, including policy management, reporting, investigations, trend analysis, training initiatives, and contract management. Speak-Up Culture Promote a strong speak-up culture by tailoring whistleblowing systems to specific audiences, ensuring accessible channels for reporting concerns while fostering transparency. Compliance Policies Oversee the rollout and maintenance of compliance policies, streamlining processes to adapt to evolving regulations. Group-Wide Training Programs Develop and manage compliance training programs for all legal entities within Zalando Group, equipping employees to mitigate risks effectively. Regulatory Support Provide compliance support for Zalando Payments, ensuring adherence to BaFin regulations. Misconduct Investigations Lead sensitive investigations into potential misconduct, resolving issues discreetly without disrupting operations. Audit Participation Actively contribute to audits, including those of the Compliance Management System, ensuring smooth processes and successful outcomes. Cultural Advocacy As a zBeat ambassador, connect compliance initiatives with workplace culture efforts to enhance team morale.

  • Legal and Compliance Officer at Robeco
    Aug 2019 - Nov 2021 · 2 yrs 4 mos

    Member of the Legal & Compliance Department of Robeco Switzerland. Some of my achievements: Act as the main point of contact for compliance topics, including Cross Border Compliance, Conflict of Interest, and ensuring regulatory-compliant market communication. Contribute to key projects, such as integrating new regulations (like FinSA/FinIA, Federal Data Protection Act, SFDR) into the company’s structure and simplifying the compliance framework. Lead the digitalization of compliance processes for Robeco Switzerland, testing and implementing automated compliance solutions to improve efficiency. Manage the company’s policy structure, ensuring clear, up-to-date, and well-organized policies across the organization. Support the development and upkeep of the Compliance Monitoring Plan, helping the company stay on top of its compliance obligations. Negotiate agreements with national and international partners, as well as Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with group companies, ensuring strong business relationships and compliance. Conduct internal investigations into non-compliant employee behavior, resolving issues while maintaining confidentiality. Actively participate in internal and external audits, ensuring smooth and successful audit processes. Develop and deliver employee training programs, helping staff understand and follow compliance rules.

  • Julius Baer (3 yrs 2 mos)
    • Compliance Officer
      Jun 2016 - Jul 2019 · 3 yrs 2 mos

      Member of the Policies & Compliance Governance Team. Some of my achievements: Managing the successful implementation of internal and external regulatory frameworks, ensuring the seamless alignment of compliance with Bank Julius Baer's operational standards. Driven the industrialisation of compliance practices, working with the University of Lausanne and the Business Engineering Institute St. Gallen to streamline and modernise compliance procedures. Played a key role in the implementation of a new centralised policy database across the firm, including a hands-on implementation in the Hong Kong office, improving global policy access and compliance tracking. Served as the primary point of contact for conflicts of interest, providing expert guidance to mitigate risk and maintain ethical standards across all departments.

    • Compliance Officer Asia
      Apr 2018 - Jun 2018 · 3 mos

      Member of the Policies & Compliance Governance Team. Some of my achievements: Supported the implementation of a policy workflow and repository tool in partnership with the policy desks in Hong Kong and Singapore, assisting in staff training and creating region-specific training materials to ensure smooth adoption and policy compliance. Assisted with quarterly reporting of personal account transactions (PAT) and business model offerings (BMO) for the Hong Kong branch, contributing to accurate and timely compliance reporting. Provided ad-hoc support to the local regulatory team by responding to requests from Hong Kong regulators, facilitating efficient regulatory interactions. Coordinated blackout period management for the Hong Kong branch, helping to uphold regulatory compliance related to trading restrictions. Assessed employee requests for continuous professional training, ensuring alignment with the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong (SFC) guidelines and supporting regulatory adherence in employee development.

  • Jurist at Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd
    Oct 2015 - May 2016 · 8 mos

    Analytical activity in the field of international legal assistance.

  • Legal Intern at Direktion der Justiz und des Innern Kanton Zürich
    Jul 2014 - Jan 2015 · 7 mos

    As part of my traineeship, I wrote my master's thesis in law, titled "The Implementation of Legal and De Facto Equality in Switzerland - A Comparison with Sweden." This experience allowed me to gain valuable insights into the legal landscape in Switzerland and propose potential improvements to enhance equality in the country.