Industrial Executive & Board Moves

Q4 2024

Industrial Board Moves

Arbonia

  • Alexander von Witzleben will transition from his role as Executive Chairman to Chairman at Arbonia, effective January 1, 2025. This change signifies a shift from an executive to a non-executive capacity within the company.

Artemis

  • Dr. Christoph Franz has been elected as the Vice President of the Board of Directors for Artemis Holding, joining Nina Pieper in this role. His appointment, confirmed at the extraordinary general meeting on October 31, 2024, brings his extensive international experience to support the strategic direction of the company. Previously, Franz served as Chairman of Roche's Board from 2014 to 2023 and held executive roles at Deutsche Lufthansa and Swiss International Airlines.

Barry Callebaut

  • Barbara Richmond joined the Board of Barry Callebaut in December 2024, bringing a wealth of financial and strategic expertise from her extensive experience as CFO at various companies, including her current role at Redrow.

  • In the same month, Antoine Jean Bernard de Saint-Affrique stepped down as Director, while Timothy (Tim) E. Minges and Yen Yen Tan concluded their tenures as Independent Directors, with all changes taking effect on December 4, 2024.

Baloise

  • At the General Meeting on April 25, 2025, Baloise will propose the election of three new board members: Vincent Vandendael, André Helfenstein, and Robert Schuchna, to enhance expertise in insurance and financial markets. Christoph B. Gloor and Prof. Dr. Hans-Jörg Schmidt-Trenz will not stand for re-election. The changes reflect Baloise's commitment to strengthening its strategic focus on insurance and financial services.

Bucher Industries

  • The Board of Directors of Bucher Industries has proposed Manja Greimeier for election to the Board at the General Meeting on April 16, 2025, bringing the total number of members back to six. Greimeier, a seasoned executive with extensive international industry experience, has held significant roles at Valeo and Continental, where she currently oversees the global original equipment business for the tire segment.

Clariant

  • Clariant has announced the nomination of Ben van Beurden as the new Chairman of the Board of Directors, set to take over in 2025 following Günter von Au's resignation. Van Beurden, who brings extensive experience from his tenure as CEO of Shell and his current role as a Senior Advisor for KKR's climate fund, is expected to lead the board in navigating the company's strategic direction. Von Au, who has served on the board since 2012 and as its chairman since 2021, will step down at the annual general meeting on April 1, 2025.

Dätwyler

  • The Board of Dätwyler has nominated Britt Hendriksen for election to the Board of Directors as a representative of public shareholders at the annual general meeting on March 18, 2025. Currently the Group CFO at Unilabs, Hendriksen brings extensive financial and strategic experience, having previously held global leadership roles at Novartis.

Feintool

  • At the upcoming Annual General Meeting on April 29, 2025, Alexander von Witzleben will resign as Chairman and Board member, and the Board will propose the current Vice Chairman Norbert Indlekofer as his successor, and Matthias Holzammer as a new Board member. Norbert Indlekofer brings experience from the Schaeffler Group, while Matthias Holzammer has extensive experience in the automotive supplier industry, having served as CEO of Autoneum.

Forbo

  • This E. Schneider will not stand for re-election to the Board of Directors of Forbo Holding AG at the annual general meeting on April 4, 2025, after serving since 2004 in various leadership roles, including CEO and Chairman. The Board proposes Bernhard Merki as the new Chairman, who joined the board in April 2024 and brings extensive industry experience from his roles at EMS-Chemie-Holding and Georg Utz Holding.

Glarner Kantonalbank

  • Sonja Stirnimann will step down from her role as Independent Board Member at Glarner Kantonalbank (GLKB) effective April 25, 2025. Her departure signifies a change in the bank's board composition as it continues to navigate its strategic objectives.

Glencore

  • As of December 31, 2024, David Richard Wormsley concluded his tenure as an Independent Non-Executive Director at Glencore.

Gurit

  • At the Annual General Meeting on April 15, 2025, Dr. Bettina Gerharz-Kalte will not stand for re-election to Gurit's Board of Directors, having served since 2019. The Board will propose Dr. Libo Zhang as her successor, bringing extensive international experience and financial expertise.

  • Additionally, Nick Huber will stand for re-election as a member of the Nomination and Compensation Committee, with plans to appoint him as Chairman if re-elected, ensuring continuity in the company's governance practices.

Helsana

  • Daniel Liedtke, the current CEO of the Hirslanden hospital group, will transition to become the Chairman of Helsana, succeeding Thomas Szucs on October 1, 2025. With nearly 25 years of experience in the healthcare sector, Liedtke brings invaluable insights to Helsana, particularly in navigating the increasingly strained relationships between hospitals and insurers amidst rising cost pressures.

Komax

  • At the upcoming General Meeting on April 16, 2025, the Board of Komax will propose Andreas Häberli as the new Chairman, succeeding Beat Kälin, who will remain on the board until 2027 before stepping down due to term limits.

  • Additionally, Daniel Lippuner is nominated to join the board, instead of Roland Siegwart, who will not stand for re-election. These changes reflect Komax's commitment to leadership continuity and strategic growth in automated cable processing.

Kongsberg Automotive

  • Kongsberg Automotive held an Extraordinary General Meeting on December 20, 2024, to elect new board members and update its Nomination Committee. New board members elected included Olav Volldal as Chair, along with Bård Klungseth and Synnøve Gjønnes. Concurrently, Christina Hallin, Erik Volden, and Peter Thostrup stepped down from their roles as Board Members, with Thostrup also leaving his position as Chairman at Kongsberg Automotive.

Lonza

  • Lonza's Board of Directors has nominated David Meline as an Independent Board Member, proposing his election at the AGM in May 2025. With extensive experience as CFO in industrial and biotech companies, Meline's expertise will enhance Lonza's focus on growth and innovation. Meanwhile, Olivier Verscheure will not stand for re-election, having contributed significantly with his digital expertise since 2018.

Mobilezone

  • Gabriela Theus will be stepping down from her position as an Independent Board Member at Mobilezone Holding, effective April 2, 2025. Concurrently, Andreas Wyss will join the company as an Independent Board Member on the same date.

Mirabaud Group

  • In 2024, the Swiss banking group Mirabaud quietly restructured its Board of Directors and appointed Christophe Guillemot as the new Chairman, replacing Yves Mirabaud, effective January 1, 2024.

  • Additionally, Bruno Houdmont and Natacha Polli joined the board in early 2024, bringing the total number of board members to five, alongside Christina Pamberg and Lionel Aeschlimann.

PostFinance

  • Nicole Burth has been appointed to the Board of Directors of PostFinance, effective November 21, 2024. Burth, who has led the Communication Services division at Swiss Post and served on its Executive Board since 2021, substitutes Giulia Fitzpatrick.

Ruag

  • Jürg Rötheli has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Board of Directors at Ruag MRO, the defense division of the Swiss federal company, effective January 1, 2025. Rötheli, who previously served as Chairman and operational leader of ORS AG, was chosen for his extensive management experience, particularly in state-affiliated enterprises. His appointment follows the resignation of Nicolas Perrin, who stepped down amid compliance issues related to a tank deal with Italy, as noted by the Federal Audit Office. Rötheli aims to restore trust with key stakeholders, leveraging his external perspective and legal expertise.

Selecta

  • Joe Plumeri, the 81-year-old Executive Chairman of Selecta, retired at the end of 2024, with Marc van der Plas succeeding him as Non-executive Chairman effective January 1, 2025. Plumeri, who has led the board for the past four years, expressed honor in his role, while Selecta, formerly listed on the Swiss stock exchange, has been owned by the U.S. private equity firm KKR since 2015.

SIG

  • SIG's Board of Directors has proposed Ola Rollén as the candidate for Chairman at the 2025 General Meeting, succeeding Andreas Umbach, who will not stand for re-election after leading the company since its 2018 IPO. Ola Rollén, a seasoned leader with extensive industry experience, previously transformed Hexagon into a global leader in sensor and software technologies and is currently CEO of Greenbridge.

Swica

  • Swica has nominated Werner Kübler to succeed Carlo Conti as Chairman of the Board, effective June 2025. Conti, who has served as Chairman for the past ten years, is stepping down due to statutory age restrictions. Kübler, a physician and business administrator with extensive experience and a strong network within the healthcare sector, currently serves as Director at the University Hospital Basel.

Swiss Krono Group

  • Reto Müller, after years of service, is stepped down as Chairman of the Board as of September 30, 2024, and was succeeded by Georg Benes. Additionally, Maciej Karnicki joined the Board on October 1, 2024, bringing extensive experience in the wood-based materials industry.

Swiss Steel Group

  • Martin Lindqvist has succeeded Jens Alder as Chairman of the Board of Directors at Swiss Steel Group, effective October 30, 2024. Bringing extensive industry experience from his tenure as President and CEO of SSAB, Lindqvist will continue to drive the transformation of the company. Jens Alder will assume the role of Vice Chairman, and his strategic expertise and leadership have been greatly appreciated during his tenure.

 


 

Contact

Dominik Brülisauer
Russell Reynolds Associates
Stampfenbachstrasse 5 | 8001 Zurich | Switzerland
Direct: +41-44-447-30-46
Mobile: +41-79-549-80-28
dominik.bruelisauer@russellreynolds.com

Industrial Executive Moves

ABB

  • ABB has appointed Mathias Gaertner as the new General Counsel and Company Secretary, effective November 2024, succeeding Natalia Shehadeh, who has been serving in the role ad interim since June 1, 2023, and will continue as Chief Integrity Officer.

Abraxas

  • Abraxas Informatik has appointed Raphael Hauser as the new Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and Head of the Compliance, Risk & Security (CRS) team, effective early December. Hauser, 38, joins from Hilti, bringing extensive experience in governance, risk, and compliance, having worked on enterprise risk management, IoT security standards, and ISO audits.

Arbonia

  • The Board of Directors of Arbonia appointed Claudius Moor as the new CEO of the Arbonia Group, effective January 1, 2025. Claudius Moor, a Swiss national and current head of the Doors Division since July 2020, will succeed Alexander von Witzleben, who will step down from his executive role but remain as Chairman of the Board.

Aryzta

  • Aryzta's Chief Operations Officer, Sandip Gudka, will leave the company for personal reasons effective January 2025. Christophe Toitot will succeed Gudka, taking on a newly combined role that merges the responsibilities of COO and Chief Procurement Officer, overseeing procurement, production, and logistics, while CFO Martin Huber will assume responsibility for ESG initiatives.

Autoneum

  • Autoneum has announced the appointment of Denis Albert as the new Head of North America, effective January 2025, succeeding Greg Sibley, who will retire shortly thereafter. Albert, who joined Autoneum in January 2024, previously held various leadership roles at Forvia (Faurecia) over a 25-year career.

Aveniq

  • Christophe Macherel has resigned as CEO of the IT service provider Aveniq with immediate effect after three and a half years in the role. Thomas Geier, the current CFO, will serve as interim CEO while the search for a permanent successor is underway.

Bally

  • Nicolas Girotto has resigned as CEO of Bally following its acquisition by the US-based Regent Group, despite earlier plans for him to remain.

Belimo

  • Belimo is seeking a successor for James Furlong, Head of the Americas Division, who will retire at the end of February 2026 after a decade in the role.

Brack Alltron

  • Brack Alltron has appointed Tobias Quelle as the new Chief Information Officer (CIO), effective January 2025, where he will join the executive team. He succeeds Marcel Rassinger, who is pursuing a self-employed career. Previously, Quelle served as Head of Product Onlineshops & User Experience at Digitec Galaxus and will now oversee Brack Alltron's IT department.

Carlo Gavazzi

  • Carlo Gavazzi Holding has announced that CFO Tobias Bissig will leave at the end of November to pursue new opportunities, with Yolanta de Cacqueray stepping in as interim CFO until a successor is appointed.

Coca-Cola

  • Henrique Gnani Braun will take over the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Coca-Cola, effective January 1, 2025. This appointment highlights Coca-Cola's strategic leadership enhancements as it seeks to strengthen its operational excellence.

Colosseum Dental

  • As of November 2024, Baron Patrick G. De Maeseneire transitioned from his dual role as Chairman and CEO to solely serving as CEO of Colosseum.

Comet

  • Comet has appointed Christian Witt as Chief Financial Officer and Member of the Executive Committee, effective January 1, 2025, succeeding interim CFO Nicola Rotondo. Witt, with 28 years of experience in the industrial and technology sectors, previously served as CFO of LPKF Laser & Electronics and brings a strong international background.

Die Post

  • The Board of Directors of Swiss Post has appointed Stefan Regli as the Head of Mobility Services, effective February 2025. Regli will oversee operations, including the PostBus subsidiary, succeeding Christian Plüss. Regli will also join the Executive Management.

DKSH

  • Dr. Laurent Sigismondi has left his position as General Counsel and Secretary at DKSH Holding, effective October 2024.

DocMorris

  • Effective November 1, 2024, Pablo Ros Gomez will take over the role of CTO at DocMorris, joining the Executive Board. He succeeds Madhu Nutakki, who is leaving after over three years to return to the U.S.

dormakaba

  • Effective January 1, 2025, Christian Baur will join dormakaba's executive management as the head of the "Key & Wall Solutions and OEM" division and the newly established role of Chief Transformation Officer. He succeeds Stefano Zocca, who is leaving the company after 13 years.

Fenaco

  • Michael Buser, Head of the IT/Logistics Department at the agricultural cooperative Fenaco, has announced his retirement, effective January 2026. Buser, who joined Fenaco in 2013 and became a member of the extended management board in 2014, has contributed significantly to the group's development over his 12-year tenure. Fenaco plans to announce his successor in due course.

Galenica

  • Julian Fiessinger has transitioned from his role as Head of Investor Relations/Corporate Finance to Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at Galenica, effective January 1, 2025. This follows the departure of Felix Burkhard, who stepped down from the CFO position on December 31, 2024.

Georg Fischer

  • Joost Geginat has stepped down as head of Georg Fischer's Piping Systems division, effective immediately, to assume a new role within the company in 2025. CEO Andreas Müller will lead the division on an interim basis while a search for a permanent successor is underway.

Gurit

  • Gurit is undergoing a strategic realignment, focusing on streamlining its portfolio and reducing its wind energy segment, which has not met expectations. As part of this restructuring, CEO Mitja Schulz will depart by mutual agreement, with CFO Javier Perez-Freije taking over the role of interim CEO.

Hexagon

  • Effective February 1, 2025, Thomas Harring will transition to the role of Executive Vice President of Hexagon, focusing on operational excellence and business transformation across divisions. Henning Sandfort will succeed Harring as President of Hexagon's Geosystems division, bringing his extensive experience from Siemens Smart Infrastructure to drive innovation and growth in the division. Both executives will report directly to the CEO of Hexagon.

Interroll

  • Interroll has appointed Johannes van der Beek as Chief Technology Officer, with his tenure beginning in April 2025. Van der Beek, an engineer with a degree from the University of Aachen, brings extensive experience from the packaging sector, having led initiatives in modular platform development, technology advancement, and digital product functions.

Inventx

  • Emanuele Diquattro has been appointed CEO of Inventx, effective January 1, 2025, succeeding interim CEO Gregor Stücheli. Diquattro, currently Country Lead Switzerland at Wefox, brings over fifteen years of C-level experience in technology and insurance. His appointment follows the departure of former CEO Pascal Keller.

Kägi Söhne

  • Kägi Söhne (Kägi fret) has appointed Cedric El-Idrissi as the new CEO, effective mid-August, succeeding interim leader COO Pascal Grin. El-Idrissi brings extensive leadership experience from international companies such as Coca-Cola, Mondelez, and PepsiCo.

Kardex

  • Urs Siegenthaler retired as Head of the Remstar Division at Kardex at the end of 2024, and will continue in a reduced role during 2025 to aid in the transition. Kardex Remstar will in future be managed directly by the Group CEO, Jens Hardenacke.

Kistler Group

  • Rolf Sonderegger is stepping down as CEO of the Kistler Group after 22 years, with Marc Schaad, the long-time CTO, set to take over on January 1, 2025. Schaad, an ETH graduate and mechanical engineer, has significantly contributed to Kistler's development in research, development, and strategic product management. Sonderegger, who transformed Kistler into a global provider of measurement solutions, will remain the majority owner and plans to return as Chairman of the Board in 2027 after a two-year break.

Landis+Gyr

  • The Board of Directors of Landis+Gyr Group has appointed Peter Mainz as the new CEO, effective November 21, 2024, succeeding Werner Lieberherr, who will retire in spring 2025. Mainz, a board member since 2018 and former long-term President and CEO of Sensus, brings extensive industry experience to the role. While stepping down from his positions as Chair of the Compensation Committee and member of the Audit, Finance, and Risk Committee, he will continue as a Delegate of the Board, ensuring continuity with Landis+Gyr's financial and strategic objectives.

  • Additionally, CFO Elodie Carr-Cingari will be stepping down, while Rob Evans has been named the new Head of EMEA as part of the ongoing strategic review.

  • Prasanna Venkatesan was elected Executive Vice President and Head of Americas, effective December 10, 2024, succeeding Sean Cromie, who is leaving the company.

Leclanché

  • Leclanché announced the resignation of Pasquale Foglia from his position as Chief Financial Officer, effective October 31, 2024, as he pursues new interests. Hubert Angleys, who previously served as CFO until April 2022, will step in as Interim CFO starting October 14, 2024, to ensure a seamless transition while the company searches for a permanent successor.

Lonza

  • As of November 2024, Ulrike Kaeppler stepped down from her role as Chief Human Resource Officer at Lonza Group, and Nicoleta Baumgärtner was appointed as her successor in this position.

Nestlé

  • Effective January 1, 2025, Nestlé will merge Zone Latin America and Zone North America into Zone Americas, led by Steve Presley. The Greater China Region will join Zone Asia, Oceania, and Africa under Remy Ejel’s leadership.

  • Additionally, Anna Lenz will become Head of Human Resources and join the Executive Board.

Orell Füssli

  • The Board of Directors of Orell Füssli has appointed Martina Barth to the Executive Board of the Orell Füssli Group, effective January 1, 2025. Barth, who joined the company in November 2020 as Head of Publishing, and currently holds the position of Head Publishing Division and Head of Orell Füssli Verlage, has significantly contributed to the division's profitability and growth, including spearheading the acquisition of hep Verlag and advancing the digitization strategy.

Orior

  • On November 7, 2024, Orior has announced a leadership transition, with Daniel Lutz stepping down as CEO after nearly a decade, as the company seeks new leadership. Filip De Spiegeleire will serve as interim CEO, having been part of Orior's Group Executive Board since 2016.

Postfinance

  • Marc Bonfils has been appointed as the interim Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Postfinance, effective March 1, 2025, succeeding Kurt Fuchs, who will leave the company at the end of February 2025.

Richemont

  • Laurent Perves has been appointed as CEO of Vacheron Constantin, effective January 1, 2025, succeeding Louis Ferla. Perves, who joined the Maison in 2016 and has served as Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Commercial Officer, brings over 20 years of luxury industry experience, including significant roles at LVMH and Procter & Gamble.

  • Additionally, Richemont has appointed its former CEO, Jérôme Lambert, as the head of the Jaeger-LeCoultre brand, effective early 2025, marking his return to the company where he previously held leadership roles, including CEO from 2002 to 2013. This appointment follows the departure of Catherine Rénier, who transitioned to lead Van Cleef & Arpels.

Rieter

  • Effective January 2025, Emmanuelle Gmür will become the new Chief Human Resources Officer and a member of the Executive Board at Rieter, succeeding Tom Ban, who is leaving the company. Gmür brings extensive experience from her previous role as Chief Human Resources Officer at the Triumph Group and as a board member of Triumph France.

Romande Energie

  • Christian Petit has stepped down as CEO of Romande Energie Group, a decision made in mutual agreement with the Board of Directors to advance the company's transition into its next strategic phase. Patrick Bertschy, currently Head of Grids and Deputy CEO, has been appointed as interim CEO.

SBB

  • Peter Kummer will step down as Head of Infrastructure at SBB by the end of May 2025, transitioning to roles focusing on collaborations with universities.

  • Additionally, Adi Bucher will take over the role of Head of Human Resources and join the SBB Executive Board on June 1, 2025, succeeding Markus Jordi.

Schindler

  • Silvio Napoli will step down as both CEO and Chairman of the Board at Schindler in spring 2025, concluding his dual role earlier than anticipated. Paolo Compagna, currently the Chief Operating Officer and a member of the Executive Committee since 2015, has been appointed as the new CEO, effective April 2025. The successor for the position of Chairman of the Board has not yet been announced.

Scout24

  • Effective February 28, 2025, Tobias (Tobi) Hartmann will step down from his position as CEO of Scout24.

SGS

  • James Roberts has been appointed as the Chief People Officer at SGS, effective November 1, 2024. Concurrently, he has left his previous position as HR Director at Aggregate Industries.

Siemens

  • Siemens has appointed Susanne Seitz as the CEO of its newly established Buildings division, effective October 1, 2024. This new division, part of Smart Infrastructure HQ in Zug, consolidates all building-related areas of Siemens, focusing on accelerating growth in intelligent and sustainable buildings.

Siegfried

  • Effective January 1, 2025, Stefan Randl will assume the role of Chief Scientific Officer, succeeding Jürgen Roos.

  • Additionally, Olesia Silanteva will take over as Chief Human Resources Officer on April 1, 2025, instead of Irene Wosgien.

  • Luca Dalla Torre, currently serving as General Counsel, will be appointed Chief Legal and Sustainability Officer and join the Executive Committee, effective January 1, 2025.

SIG

  • The SIG Group has appointed Fabio Grazioli as Chief Supply Chain Officer, joining the executive board in mid-November 2024. Grazioli, who brings extensive experience in supply chain management, comes from the Haier Group.

SITA

  • SITA has appointed Nathalie Altwegg as Senior Vice President of its Airports business unit, where she will lead the company's growth and digital transformation efforts across more than 1,000 global airports. Altwegg, previously COO for SITA Europe, brings over two decades of air transport industry experience, with expertise in strategy, M&A, and business development.

SIX

  • The Swiss stock exchange, SIX, has appointed Bjørn Sibbern as its new CEO, effective 2025, succeeding Jos Dijsselhof. Sibbern, who joined SIX from Nasdaq earlier this year and currently leads its international exchange business, will substitute Dijsselhof, who is leaving after seven years to pursue a new opportunity in the Middle East.

SoftwareOne

  • SoftwareOne has announced the appointment of Raphael Erb as CEO, effective November 1, 2024, succeeding Brian Duffy.

Sonova

  • Sonova has appointed Elodie Carr-Cingari as the new Chief Financial Officer, effective by July 2025, succeeding Birgit Conix, who is leaving to pursue non-executive board roles. Carr-Cingari, with over 25 years of international financial experience, joins from Landis+Gyr Group, bringing extensive expertise in strategic and operational finance management.

Utz

  • Marc Schürmann, the outgoing head of the Wire Processing division at Komax, has been appointed as the new CEO of the Utz Group, effective after his departure from Komax at the end of January 2025.

V-Zug

  • Christoph Kilian has been appointed as the new CEO of V-ZUG Group, effective April 1, 2025, succeeding Peter Spirig, who will leave in the second quarter of 2025 after the 2024 annual results are communicated.

Würth

  • Reinhold Würth is stepping down as the head of the Würth Group, with his grandson Benjamin Würth take over the leadership role in 2025. Benjamin, who has a background in marketing and sales within the family business, will take over as Chairman of the Supervisory Board, navigating the company through current economic challenges, including a hiring freeze and a recent plant closure.

Zehnder

  • Zehnder Group has appointed Valentina Videva Dufresne as President of North America and a member of the Group Executive Committee, effective January 1, 2025. In her new role, she will focus on driving the growth of the company’s North American operations. Valentina brings extensive experience from her previous leadership roles at Sensata Technologies and holds advanced degrees from MIT.

 


 

Contact

Dominik Brülisauer
Russell Reynolds Associates
Stampfenbachstrasse 5 | 8001 Zurich | Switzerland
Direct: +41-44-447-30-46
Mobile: +41-79-549-80-28
dominik.bruelisauer@russellreynolds.com