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FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
Dated March 2, 2004
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the month of March 2, 2004
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Commission File Number 001-15244
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CREDIT SUISSE GROUP
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(Translation of registrant's name into English)
Paradeplatz 8, P.O. Box 1, CH-8070 Zurich, Switzerland
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(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F
Form 20-F /X/ Form 40-F / /
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Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper
as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):
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Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1) only permits the submission in paper of a
Form 6-K if submitted solely to provide an attached annual report to
security holders.
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper
as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):
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Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7) only permits the submission in paper of a
Form 6-K if submitted to furnish a report or other document that the
registrant foreign private issuer must furnish and make public under the laws
of the jurisdiction in which the registrant is incorporated, domiciled or
legally organized (the registrant's "home country"), or under the rules of
the home country exchange on which the registrant's securities are traded, as
long as the report or other document is not a press release, is not required
to be and has not been distributed to the registrant's security holders, and,
if discussing a material event, has already been the subject of a Form 6-K
submission or other Commission filing on EDGAR.
Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in this
Form, the registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934.
Yes / / No /X/
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If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the
registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-
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[GRAPHIC OMITTED CREDIT SUISSE GROUP]
Media Relations
CREDIT SUISSE GROUP
P.O. Box 1
CH-8070 Zurich
Telephone +41-1-333 8844
Fax +41-1-333 8877
e-mail media.relations@credit-suisse.com
RENATO FASSBIND TO SUCCEED PHILIP K. RYAN AS CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
OF CREDIT SUISSE GROUP, EFFECTIVE AUGUST 5, 2004
ZURICH, MARCH 2, 2004 - AFTER FIVE YEARS AS CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF CREDIT
SUISSE GROUP, DURING WHICH TIME HE MADE MANY SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE
GROUP'S FINANCE FUNCTION INCLUDING THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF ITS THREE-YEAR
TRANSITION TO US GAAP AS ITS PRIMARY ACCOUNTING STANDARD, PHILIP K. RYAN HAS
DECIDED TO STEP DOWN FROM HIS CURRENT POSITION THIS SUMMER. PHILIP K. RYAN HAS
BEEN WITH CREDIT SUISSE GROUP FOR ALMOST TWENTY YEARS.
The Board of Directors has appointed Renato Fassbind - currently Chief Executive
Officer of Diethelm Keller Group, a privately held and internationally
diversified company headquartered in Switzerland - as the Group's new Chief
Financial Officer. Renato Fassbind, a Swiss national, brings with him an
extensive knowledge of financial management and a deep understanding of US GAAP
accounting, as well as valuable experience gained while working in the US. In
his new position as Chief Financial Officer, Renato Fassbind will be a Member of
the Executive Board of Credit Suisse Group and will report to the Group's
Co-CEOs Oswald J. Gruebel and John J. Mack.
Oswald J. Gruebel and John J. Mack said: "Phil Ryan has done an outstanding job
in his tenure as Chief Financial Officer. We are very grateful for his valuable
contribution to the company and look forward to his further involvement within
Credit Suisse Group. With the appointment of Renato Fassbind, we have found a
highly-qualified and experienced successor for Phil. We are delighted that
Renato Fassbind, who possesses both excellent professional and personal skills,
has agreed to join Credit Suisse Group."
Renato Fassbind will start at Credit Suisse Group on June 1, 2004. To allow for
a smooth transition, the hand-over of the CFO function will take place on August
5, 2004, following the announcement of Credit Suisse Group's second quarter
results on August 4.
ENQUIRIES
Credit Suisse Group, Media Relations Telephone +41 1 333 8844
Credit Suisse Group, Investor Relations Telephone +41 1 333 4570
Internet www.credit-suisse.com
CREDIT SUISSE GROUP
Credit Suisse Group is a leading global financial services company headquartered
in Zurich. The business unit Credit Suisse Financial Services provides private
clients and small and medium-sized companies with private banking and financial
advisory services, banking products, and pension and insurance solutions from
Winterthur. The business unit Credit Suisse First Boston, an investment bank,
serves global institutional, corporate, government and individual clients in its
role as a financial intermediary. Credit Suisse Group's registered shares (CSGN)
are listed in Switzerland, and in the form of American Depositary Shares (CSR)
in New York. The Group employs around 60,800 staff worldwide. As of December 31,
2003, it reported assets under management of CHF 1,199.0 billion.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This press release contains statements that constitute forward-looking
statements. In addition, in the future we, and others on our behalf, may make
statements that constitute forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking
statements may include, without limitation, statements relating to our plans,
objectives or goals; our future economic performance or prospects; the potential
effect on our future performance of certain contingencies; and assumptions
underlying any such statements.
Words such as "believes," "anticipates," "expects," "intends" and "plans" and
similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements but are
not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. We do not intend to
update these forward-looking statements except as may be required by applicable
laws.
By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and
uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that predictions,
forecasts, projections and other outcomes described or implied in
forward-looking statements will not be achieved. We caution you that a number of
important factors could cause results to differ materially from the plans,
objectives, expectations, estimates and intentions expressed in such
forward-looking statements. These factors include (i) market and interest rate
fluctuations; (ii) the strength of the global economy in general and the
strength of the economies of the countries in which we conduct our operations in
particular; (iii) the ability of counterparties to meet their obligations to us;
(iv) the effects of, and changes in, fiscal, monetary, trade and tax policies,
and currency fluctuations; (v) political and social developments, including war,
civil unrest or terrorist activity; (vi) the possibility of foreign exchange
controls, expropriation, nationalization or confiscation of assets in countries
in which we conduct our operations; (vii) the ability to maintain sufficient
liquidity and access capital markets; (viii) operational factors such as systems
failure, human error, or the failure to properly implement procedures; (ix)
actions taken by regulators with respect to our business and practices in one or
more of the countries in which we conduct our operations; (x) the effects of
changes in laws, regulations or accounting policies or practices; (xi)
competition in geographic and business areas in which we conduct our operations;
(xii) the ability to retain and recruit qualified personnel; (xiii) the ability
to maintain our reputation and promote our brands; (xiv) the ability to increase
market share and control expenses; (xv) technological changes; (xvi) the timely
development and acceptance of our new products and services and the perceived
overall value of these products and services by users; (xvii) acquisitions,
including the ability to integrate successfully acquired businesses; (xviii) the
adverse resolution of litigation and other contingencies; and (xix) our success
at managing the risks involved in the foregoing.
We caution you that the foregoing list of important factors is not exclusive;
when evaluating forward-looking statements, you should carefully consider the
foregoing factors and other uncertainties and events, as well as the risks
identified in our most recently filed Form 20-F and reports on Form 6-K
furnished to the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
CREDIT SUISSE GROUP
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(Registrant)
Date March 2, 2004 By: /s/ David Frick
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(Signature)*
Member of the Executive Board
*Print the name and title of the signing
officer under his signature. /s/ Karin Rhomberg Hug
Managing Director