Nicolay has been working with the Bank of New York Mellon since 2000 and has been involved in Aleba since 2008. She is set to take over as secretary general ad-interim until mid-2022.

Mertz had left the union for personal reasons.

“She is a very competent person and comfortable in public. She will be able to continue the very good work of Laurent Mertz, whom I would like to thank again for his energy spent on the files and his functionsm,” said Aleba president Roberto Mendolia.

As part of her new position, Nicolay will oversee negotiations for a new collective work agreement in the banking and insurance sectors. Aleba will also have to deal with labour minister Dan Kersch (LSAP) withdrawing its right to represent the financial sector, a decision the union is appealing in court.

This story was first published in French on Paperjam. It has been translated and edited for Delano.