Berlin-based digital bank N26 has installed Mike Dargan as its new Chief Executive Officer from April 2026, following his appointment announced in December 2025. Dargan's arrival follows the exit of co-founder Maximilian Tayenthal, who stepped away from his operational duties as co-CEO on 31 December 2025; CFO Arnd Schwierholz and Marcus W. Mosen then served as interim co-CEOs until Dargan's arrival.
Dargan most recently served as Group Chief Operations and Technology Officer at UBS, a role he took on in 2023 during the integration of Credit Suisse; he joined UBS in 2016 as chief information officer and joined its group executive board in 2021. His appointment, announced in December 2025, was made subject to approval by BaFin.
FROM FOUNDER LEADERSHIP TO PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT
N26 has faced prolonged scrutiny from BaFin, which in 2021 capped the number of new customers it could take on. Tayenthal co-founded the bank with Valentin Stalf and served as co-CEO. Dargan was hired from outside the bank; the CEO search had begun after co-founder Valentin Stalf said in August 2025 that he would step down as co-CEO.
N26 holds a German banking licence and serves customers across multiple European markets.
DARGAN'S AGENDA UNDER REGULATORY WATCH
In December 2025, when N26 announced Dargan's appointment, BaFin ordered the bank to stop new mortgage lending in the Netherlands because of compliance gaps and imposed additional capital requirements.
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