"At the end of autumn I think we can take a decision on the new CEO. Given the turbulence we have experienced we're looking for a person with a clear presence, visibility and competence," Persson, former Swedish prime minister, said.

Persson, who is due to be elected at an extraordinary general meeting on Wednesday, also said it hadn't crossed his mind that Swedbank would leave the Baltics - the region at the centre of money laundering allegations against Swedbank.

(Reporting by Johan Ahlander, editing by Esha Vaish)