ATE Bank, the new owner of Mindbank, one of the smallest banks on the domestic market is looking for heavyweights to take over the position of CEO of the Romanian bank.

Dutch-born Anthony Van der Heijden, former ING Bank Romania and Banca Tiriac chairman and Italian Salvatore Candido, former head of the representative office of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in Bucharest are at the top of the list, which also includes bankers part of the Raiffeisen management, sources close to the process told ZIARUL FINANCIAR.

Salvatore Candido verified for ZF that he been contacted through an intermediary by the officials of ATE Bank for talks.

"I can tell you now that I am in the procedure of leaving EBRD. Banking is my business and Romania is a market I know well. I have been on the Boards of some banks, such as Alpha Bank Romania. I was contacted not through the officials of the bank but through intermediaries. Anyway, we will talk some more, I am open to talks because I know the banking area in this part of Europe well," says Salvatore Candido. "I will see what they want and I'll them what I want and we shall see what understanding we can reach," Candido adds.

Asked by ZF for comment on the issue, Anthony Van der Heijden, only said, "Whenever I have some reliable news on the subject you mention I will let you know."

ATE Bank bought the controlling interests in Mindbank this summer, a bank whose market share stands at 0.27%, and has big plans of capitalising the lender and expanding its operations especially on the niche of the rural segment and the funding for the agricultural sector.

The Greek group is preparing to operate its first capital increase, worth 20 million euros, and is selecting the top management of the bank in the meantime.

"Those targeted for the position of CEO of Mindbank are the so-called 'bank b