N26 is restructuring its executive leadership team and shifting its local market reporting lines to elevate its core European growth engines. The digital bank will elevate Daniel Lappas to the newly created position of Chief Product and Business Officer, while appointing Aytac Aydin as Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director. To streamline operations across its 24 markets, the company is changing its organizational setup so that Country General Managers for France, Italy, and Spain report directly to Chief Executive Officer Mike Dargan. CEO Mike Dargan stated that these updates come at a moment where the firm is increasing its focus on "strengthening our position in our core markets."
Aydin joins the digital bank from Oldenburgische Landesbank, where he operated as chief operating officer and head of retail and SME Banking, contributing to that company's recent sale. His career spans decades in banking and capital markets, with a focus on directing international digital transformations. Lappas originally joined N26 in 2022 as the general manager for DACH and Northern Europe before being appointed as chief business officer earlier in 2026. Prior to this expanded assignment, Lappas was responsible for managing the firm's commercial strategy and growth trajectory.
Aydin will oversee the technology, operations, and legal functions to build resilient infrastructure, though his appointment remains subject to regulatory approval by BaFin. Chairman of the Supervisory Board Andreas Dombret noted that Aydin brings experience "leading transformation at scale." Meanwhile, Lappas will take on responsibility for the product division, unifying business strategy and product development under a single umbrella. This structural merger is designed to align customer needs with commercial growth as the bank expands its digital offering.