Education
Kurer graduated with a licenciate in law from the law school of the University of Zürich and also holds a doctorate in law from the same school and an Master of Laws degree from the University of Chicago School of Law. He clerked at the District Court of Zürich and was admitted as an attorney-at-law in the Canton of Zürich.
Career
He was Chairman of Union Bank of Switzerland AG from April 23, 2008 until his dismissal in 2009. He chaired the Corporate Responsibility Committee and the Strategy Committee of Union Bank of Switzerland AG. From 1980 to 1990, Kurer practiced as an attorney with the Zürich office of the international law firm Baker and McKenzie, first as an associate and later as a partner. From 1991 to 2001, Kurer was a partner at the Swiss law firm Homburger (now: Homburger AG) in Zürich.
On 1 April 2008, Union Bank of Switzerland announced that he would become Chairman of the Board of Directors, replacing Marcel Ospel.
On 4 March 2009, Union Bank of Switzerland announced that Kurer would step down as Chairman of the Board in April and that Kaspar Villiger would be nominated to succeed him. Kurer is now widely seen as a driver behind many of the risk decisions that ultimately led to huge losses for Union Bank of Switzerland, though he also deserves cr for taking swift action in terms of recapitalising the Bank in 2008.
Membership
In 2001, Kurer was appointed Group General Counsel and Member of the Group Managing Board of Union Bank of Switzerland AG and in 2002, he was appointed Member of the Executive Board. Kurer is a member of the Visiting Committee to the Law School of The University of Chicago.