Industrial Executive & Board Moves

Industrial Executive Moves

Adecco Group

• The Adecco Group has announced the appointment of Jo Debecker as the new President of Akkodis to accelerate strategic delivery, effective April 22, 2025. Debecker brings extensive experience from his previous role as Head of Wipro's FullStride Global Business Line, where he significantly increased profitability. He succeeds Dr. Jan Gupta, who played a pivotal role in the integration of AKKA and Modis.

AEW Energie

• Christoph Fischer has been appointed as the new Head of the Networks Division and Member of the Executive Board at AEW Energie, effective August 2025, succeeding David Gautschi. Fischer, with extensive experience in the energy sector, was previously Head of Grid Projects at Swissgrid, and his appointment completes AEW Energie's Executive Board.

Arbonia

• Markus Hütt was appointed as COO, effective February 26, 2025. He formerly served as CEO Central Europe for the American door manufacturer JELD-WEN. He will enhance Claudius Moor's team with his expertise in the door industry and his extensive management and leadership experience.

ASMALLWORLD

• ASMALLWORLD has appointed Zain Richardson as the new CEO, effective March 2025. Richardson, who has extensive experience in leading luxury brands and travel communities, is expected to usher in a new era of innovation and growth for the company.

BDO Schweiz

• BDO Schweiz has consolidated its strategic Management Services under the new role of COO, appointing Christoph Scholl to the position effective January 1, 2025. Previously serving as CIO and Head of Strategic Management Services, Scholl will now oversee IT, information and data security, project management, people and culture, marketing and business development, and real estate management, enhancing collaboration across these areas.

Cavotec

• At the beginning of 2025, Cavotec has appointed Jonathan Eriksson as Senior Vice President and Head of Industry Division, Nicklas Vedin as Senior Vice President and Head of Ports & Maritime Division, and Patrick Mares as Senior Vice President, Product Management and CTO. Additionally, Gabriella Sereni has been appointed as Head of Marketing and Communications, enhancing the company's focus on customer engagement, sales, and operational excellence.

Clariant

• Richard F. Haldimann has changed role from Chief Technology & Sustainability Officer to Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Technology Officer, effective February 2025. His professional experience in Innovation Excellence, New Business Development, and Sustainability Transformation combines both innovation and sustainability in an ideal way, and align with Clariant’s core focus on sustainability-driven innovation.

Cofra

• Cofra has appointed Sven Dumoulin as the new Chief Legal Officer, effective June 2025, succeeding Bernard Roelvink who is retiring. Dumoulin brings over 25 years of legal leadership experience across multiple continents, having previously served as Group Secretary at Unilever and General Counsel at Akzo Nobel.

CPH Group

• Peter Schildknecht has step down as CEO of CPH Group and Perlen Industrieholding after 16 years. Dr. Alois Waldburg-Zeil will succeed Schildknecht, effective April 1, 2025, with the transition expected to be completed by the end of January 2026.

• Additionally, Florian Geiger became CEO of Perlen Industrieholding, while Jürg Müller will succeed Gerold Brütsch as CFO, effective May 12, 2025. Geiger, who will also lead Perlen Papier, previously served as COO at Swiss Steel Group and CEO of Steeltec.

Dätwyler

• Michael Höller has started the role of COO and joined the Dätwyler’s Executive Board, effective February 2025. Höller heads the Industrial Solutions business area and brings experience in production networks including production technology, quality and logistics, and in European business strategy.

Debrunner Koenig Group

• Mitja Schulz has been appointed CEO of Debrunner Koenig Group, a subsidiary of Klöckner & Co, on February 1, 2025, succeeding Thomas Liner.

• Additionally, Oliver Bertignol will join as CFO on March 1, 2025, succeeding Heinz Rohrer, who will retire on July 31, 2025. Bertignol is an experienced manager with extensive financial expertise, who previously worked at Trumpf Schweiz, among others.

Dormakaba

• René Peter has been officially appointed as the new CFO of Dormakaba, following the interim period after the passing of the previous CFO Christina Johansson. Peter has been with Dormakaba since 2013 and previously served as the head of global controlling since 2019.

• Dormakaba appointed Nikola Faulkner as Chief Human Resources Officer, effective March 1, 2025, following her tenure at Adidas as VP of Transformation and Innovation. Faulkner, bringing nearly 20 years of international leadership experience from roles at Swiss Re, Credit Suisse, and Kühne & Nagel, succeeds Mirja Becker.

Elma

• Elma has appointed Frederic Müller as the new Group CFO, effective from June 2025, succeeding Edwin Wild, who is retiring after 16 years. Müller, currently the CFO at Wandfluh Gruppe, brings extensive experience in global financial transformation and strategic leadership, having previously held various leadership roles at ABB Group.

Franke Home Solutions

• Gregory Oswald has been appointed as the new Managing Director of Franke subsidiaries WESCO and berbel Ablufttechnik, succeeding Irina Leutwyler and Robert Brandon. Oswald, previously responsible for the DACH region at Franke Home Solutions, will now oversee the brands specializing in extraction hoods and ventilation systems.

Forbo

• Forbo CEO Jens Fankhänel is temporarily stepping down from his role due to illness, with CFO Andreas Jaeger taking over interim leadership. An update on Fankhänel's situation is expected in mid-April.

Givaudan

• Antoine Khalil has been appointed as the new Head of the Flavours Division at Givaudan, effective April 1, 2025, succeeding Louie D'Amico, who will transition to the Board of Directors. Khalil has over 21 years of commercial leadership and technical expertise at Givaudan, encompassing both the Taste & Wellbeing and Fragrance & Beauty sectors.

Globus

• Franco Savastano, the current CEO of Globus, will step down at the end of March after six years with the company. Savastano had to overcome various challenges in recent years, including the restructuring of Globus department stores and refocusing on the luxury segment.

Global Blue

• Global Blue has announced strategic changes to its Executive Committee following the departure of Greg Gelhaus, with Virginie Alem appointed as COO Japan and Gavin Ingram as COO APAC (excluding Japan), effective March 1, 2025. Additionally, Laurent Delmas will expand his responsibilities to oversee Eastern Europe and the Middle East, as part of Global Blue's efforts to drive growth and adapt to upcoming regulatory changes, ensuring operational excellence across its markets.

Groupe E

• Lauraine Ebener has been appointed as the new Director of Human Resources and a member of the General Management at Groupe E, effective September 1, 2025. She will succeed Luciano Ponti, who is retiring. Ebener brings over 25 years of experience across various industries, including banking, public transportation, event management, and IT.

Helvetica Property Investors

• Helvetica Property Investors has appointed Marc Escher as the new CFO and member of the executive management team, effective February 1, 2025, succeeding Peter R. Vogel. Escher, with extensive experience in financial management and strategic leadership, will focus on optimizing financial processes and supporting fund growth aligned with ESG principles.

Holcim

• Holcim has announced the executive leadership team for its planned spin-off of its North American business, Amrize. The team, led by Jan Jenisch as Chairman and CEO, includes a mix of key leaders from Holcim and new executives from top U.S. companies, all bringing extensive expertise and a strong track record in the North American market. Key appointments include Ian Johnston as CFO, Jaime Hill as President of Building Materials, Jake Gosa as President of Building Envelope, and Nollaig Forrest as Chief Marketing and Corporate Affairs Officer. Additional roles are filled by Steve Clark, Denise Singleton, Sam Poletti, Mario Gross, and Roald Brouwer, each bringing substantial experience to their respective positions.

Implenia

• André Rudolf Wyss has stepped down from his position as CEO, effective 31 March, 2025. The Board of Directors has named Jens Vollmar, currently Head of Division Buildings, as CEO effective April 1, 2025. Vollmar, the current Head Division Buildings, has been at Implenia since 2013.

Interroll

• Interroll has announced the appointment of Markus Asch as the new CEO, effective March 1, 2025, replacing Ingo Steinkrüger. Asch, who has served on Interroll's Board of Directors since 2020, brings extensive expertise in technology, service, and strategic alignment. With this change, Interroll aims to continue its growth trajectory while maintaining its position as a market leader in material handling solutions.

Kongsberg Automotive

• Linda Nyquist-Evenrud stepped down from her position as President and CEO of Kongsberg Automotive, effective January 29, 2025. Her departure marks a significant leadership change for the company, which may lead to strategic shifts in its future operations and management.

• Trond Fiskum has been appointed as CEO, effective March 31, 2025. He has a decade of experience from Kongsberg Automotive and brings extensive leadership experience from international companies with a solid track record of delivering strong results.

Landis+Gyr

• Landis+Gyr has appointed Davinder Athwal as its new CFO, effective April 1, 2025, succeeding Elodie Carr-Cingari. Athwal, who brings over 25 years of global finance leadership experience, previously worked at Phenom People, and his appointment aligns with Landis+Gyr's strategy to focus on growth in the Americas region.

Lem

• Lem has appointed Antoine Chulia as the new CFO, effective May 1, 2025, succeeding interim CFO Thomas Mellano. As part of the "Fit for Growth" restructuring program, the executive board is reduced from seven to five members by April 1, 2025. Bastien Musy and Rodolphe Boschet will leave the executive team, while Sylvain Lieb will join as Senior Vice President People and Sustainability.

Manor

• Manor, the Swiss department store group, has appointed Jean-Luc Battaglia as the new Chief Sales Officer and a member of its executive management team. Previously serving as the Global Chief Retail Officer at Furla, his extensive background includes leadership roles at C&A, Sergio Tacchini International, and Diesel Switzerland.

• Manor has officially appointed Nicolas Kröger as the Chief Digital Transformation Officer, a role he has held on an interim basis for the past year. This appointment underscores both Kröger's ongoing responsibility for digitalization projects and the mutual commitment to advancing Manor's digital development.

Mammut

• Mammut has appointed Jérémie Blondel as the new Chief Commercial Officer, effective June 1, 2025, succeeding Flix Münnich. Blondel brings extensive experience from the outdoor and sports industry, having previously served as Vice President of Sales for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa at The North Face, and held leadership roles at brands like Vans, Reebok, and Nike.

MCH Group

• The MCH Group announced that CEO Florian Faber is leaving the company at the end of March 2025 by mutual agreement, with Chairman Andrea Zappia stepping in as interim CEO. The Board is committed to a thorough selection process for a new leader to guide the MCH Group's strategic development and global growth.

MEDMIX

• Jasper den Ouden has been appointed as Chief HR & Sustainability Officer, succeeding Itee Satpathy, effective March 2025. He brings an extensive global HR experience and background in HR transformation, workforce planning, and organisational development.

Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ)

• Volker Dietzel has been appointed as the new Head of Products & Technology at Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ), effective April 2025. He succeeds Andreas Bossecker, who will leave the company at the end of 2025 to pursue a consulting career. The transition is planned to ensure a smooth handover of responsibilities.

• Christian Arnold will take over as CFO of NZZ in August 2025, succeeding Jörg Schnyder, who is stepping down after 16 years to take on advisory roles. Arnold, currently Head of Finance and Deputy CFO, has been with NZZ for over 20 years in various financial positions.

Novartis

• Novartis announced that Klaus Moosmayer, Chief Ethics, Risk & Compliance Officer, will leave the company to pursue new opportunities, stepping down from the Executive Committee.

• Karen Hale has been appointed to the expanded role of Chief Legal and Compliance Officer, effective April 14, 2025. She will now oversee the Ethics, Risk, and Compliance functions, continuing to report to CEO Vas Narasimhan and serve on the Executive Committee. Hale, who joined Novartis in 2021 with extensive experience in the pharmaceutical industry, will focus on aligning the Legal and ERC functions to enhance risk management across the enterprise.

Oerlikon

• Oerlikon has appointed Dirk Linzmeier as the new COO to lead the Surface Solutions division, succeeding Markus Tacke, who will remain as a strategic advisor until the end of 2025.

Peach Property Group

• Peach Property Group has appointed Stefanie Koch as the new COO, effective March 15, 2025, bringing her extensive experience in real estate management and digital transformation to enhance operational performance and IT infrastructure. Concurrently, Dr. Holger Franz has been appointed as the General Representative for the German subsidiaries, reinforcing the leadership team with his expertise in real estate transactions and financing.

POLYPEPTIDE

• Christina Ellen Del Vecchio was appointed as Chief Legal Officer - Corporate Secretary, effective January 2025. This change marks an elevation in her responsibilities within the organization's legal leadership.

Swiss Post

• Roberto Cirillo, the CEO of Swiss Post, is set to depart in April after a transformative six-year tenure. Under his leadership, Swiss Post has achieved financial stability and initiated significant digital advancements.

Richemont

• Marie-Aude Stocker has been appointed Chief People Officer and joined the Senior Executive Committee.

• Emmanuel Perrin will take over as the head of Richemont's watch brand Panerai at the beginning of April, succeeding Jean-Marc Pontroué, who is leaving after over six years leading the Italian watch manufacturer and 25 years at Richemont. Perrin brings 33 years of experience within the Richemont Group, having worked with brands like Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels, and managed watch brand distribution for the past eight years.

Ringier

• Ringier has appointed Jens Berndt as the new Head of Group Data, succeeding Merlin Bauer who will leave in April 2025 after six years with the company. Berndt, previously CTO at Ifolor and SMG Swiss Marketplace Group, will focus on aligning technology infrastructures with data ontologies for scalable growth in the AI era.

Roche

• Roche announced that Wafaa Mamilli has joined the company as Chief Digital Technology Officer and has been appointed as a member of the enlarged Corporate Executive Committee starting February 10, 2025. She takes over the global responsibility for the Informatics function from Alan Hippe, who continues as CFO. Mamilli brings extensive experience from her previous roles at Zoetis and Eli Lilly, and her appointment underscores Roche's commitment to digital transformation and the strategic use of artificial intelligence.

Romande Energie

• The Board of Directors has appointed François Fellay as its future CEO. He will take up his position by October 1, 2025, succeeding Christian Petit who successfully positioned the Group as a key player in decarbonisation and sustainability efforts in Western Switzerland. Fellay has extensive experience in the energy industry, including expert knowledge of the regulatory landscape. Patrick Bertschy who served as Interim CEO will leave his role at the same date.

Sandoz

• Francisco Ballester, President of Region International and Member of the Sandoz Executive Committee, retired on March 1, 2025, after 34 years with the company. He will be succeeded by Peter Stenico, currently the Global Platform Head of Biosimilars and Country President of Sandoz Austria, who will also join the Sandoz Executive Committee.

Santhera Pharmaceuticals

• Santhera Pharmaceuticals has appointed Catherine Isted as CFO, effective February 24, 2025, succeeding Andrew Smith who will step down after five years but remain available for a smooth transition. Isted has over 25 years of leadership experience in life sciences finance, corporate development, and investment banking.

Sauber

• Alessandro Alunni Bravi is stepping down from his role as Team Representative and Managing Director at Sauber. He joined the team in 2017 and served as its public face since 2023.

SBB

• Linus Looser has been appointed as the new Head of SBB Infrastructure, effective June 1, 2025. Looser succeeds Peter Kummer and previously served as a member of the Group Executive Board and Head of the Passenger Transport Division since 2021.

Schindler

• Schindler has appointed Meinolf Pohle to lead its China operations starting in April, succeeding Daryoush Ziai, who is leaving after ten years in the role. Additionally, Patrick Hess, the current head of Schindler Switzerland and with the company since 2001, will join the executive board, taking over responsibility for the Europe-North region.

• Schindler’s new Executive Committee, will include Paolo Compagna (CEO), Carla De Geyseleer (CFO and deputy CEO), Matteo Attrovio (CIO), Danilo Calabrò (Europe South), Donato Carparelli (CTO), Patrick Hess (Europe North), Vikén Martarian (Americas and Escalators), Hugo Martinho (Human Resources), Meinolf Pohle (China), and Robert Seakins (Asia Pacific).

Selecta

• Beat Welti has been appointed as the new country head for Selecta in Switzerland. Welti brings extensive experience from the consumer goods industry, having held leadership positions at companies such as Lindt & Sprüngli, Mars, Migros, Unilever, and most recently Bofrost.

Skyguide

• After eight years as CEO, Alex Bristol will step down from Skyguide on October 31, 2025. His successor, Peter Merz, currently the Commander of the Swiss Air Force, will join the company on October 1, 2025, to ensure a smooth transition before officially assuming the CEO role on November 1, 2025. Merz brings extensive aviation and leadership experience to the position.

SoftwareOne

• CFO Rodolfo Savitzky will step down in the second quarter of 2025, with his successor already chosen and to be announced in the near future.

SPIE Schweiz

• SPIE Schweiz has appointed Tamara Obielum to the executive management team. Since July 2023, Obielum has been leading the Marketing and Communication departments and reports directly to CEO Pierre Savoy. Her responsibilities cover the Information & Communication Services, Multi-Technical Services, and Integral Facility Services divisions. Before joining SPIE, Obielum worked as a Digital Marketer at Cisco and other ICT industry companies.

Straumann

• The Straumann Group has announced significant leadership changes, appointing Isabelle Adelt as CFO, effective July 1, 2025, succeeding Yang Xu, who will leave in May. Adelt, with over 15 years of international leadership experience, is recognized for her strategic financial leadership and expertise in digitalization and sustainable growth. Additionally, Grant Bester will join the executive team in April 2025 as the Executive Commercial Leader for North America, succeeding Aurelio Sahagun at the end of March after ensuring a smooth transition.

Sulzer

• Sulzer has announced a leadership change with Mathias Prüssing taking over as the head of the Division Flow and joining the executive management team starting in March 2025. He succeeds Jan Lüder, who is moving to a new position in Germany. Prüssing's appointment represents an internal promotion within the company, as he previously led the Building Solution unit at energy company BKW until mid-2023.

Swissgas

• Swissgas has appointed Zippora Segessenmann as the new CEO, effective October 1, 2025, following Ruedi Rohrbach's retirement after two decades in the role. Segessenmann, currently leading the Energy Division at the Federal Office for National Economic Supply, will begin her transition on July 1, 2025, while Rohrbach will remain as an advisor until his official retirement at the end of the year. Under Rohrbach's leadership, Swissgas shifted its focus away from natural gas procurement since 2019.

Swiss Management Society

• At their Annual General Meeting, the members of the Swiss Management Society (SMG) have elected Markus Streckeisen, Alice Chalupny, Urs Hofmeier, Manuel Kunzelmann, Thomas P . Meier, and Peter Spirig to the Executive Board, with Streckeisen nominated as the new president. Dorothee Auwärter, Monika Bütler, and Karen Huebscher have stepped down after two terms totaling eight years.

Temenos

• Temenos has appointed Sairam Rangachari as the Chief Product Officer, effective 28 January 2025. With over 20 years of experience in the technology and banking sectors, including roles at JPMorgan and Capital One, Rangachari will oversee the development and product strategy of Temenos solutions. Reporting to Barb Morgan, the Chief Product/Technology Officer, he will focus on enhancing the functionality and flexibility of the banking platform and driving AI innovations.

Traffigura

• Trafigura has appointed David Gallagher as the head of Structured Finance. Gallagher joins Trafigura from Signal Capital Partners in London, where he managed a commodities investment portfolio. In his new role, Gallagher will support Trafigura in structuring complex financial transactions and developing strategies related to project and asset financing.

TX Group: Tamedia

• Tamedia has appointed Jürgen Schlott as its new Digital Chief, effective March 1, succeeding Patrick Rexroth, who will transition to the role of Growth Evangelist. This move is part of Tamedia's ongoing strategy to accelerate digitalization, leveraging the Digital Hub to integrate expertise in user experience, audience growth, data, artificial intelligence, and technology.

• Victoria Rispy has been appointed as the new Chief Marketing Officer of TX Group's subsidiary, 20 Minuten, effective April 2025, succeeding Annina Flückiger who is leaving after over 19 years. Rispy, who brings extensive marketing experience from her previous roles at Migros, will join the executive team and oversee all marketing activities at 20 Minuten.

Utz Gruppe

• The Utz Gruppe has appointed Marc Schürmann as the new CEO, effective February 1, 2025, succeeding Axel Ritzberger, who is stepping down after 17 years to pursue new challenges. Under Ritzberger's leadership, the company expanded globally, establishing new facilities in the USA, China, and Mexico. Schürmann brings extensive experience from his previous roles at Komax Group and is well-versed in managing international operations similar to those of Utz Gruppe.

Valora

• Valora Group has appointed Pierre Lechartier as Group CFO, succeeding Beat Fellmann, and joining the Valora Group Leadership Team on September 1, 2025. Lechartier, who joined Valora in June 2021 and has held various leadership positions, brings extensive experience in accounting and controlling, and will ensure stability and continuity in his new role as Group CFO.

Contact

Dominik Brülisauer
Russell Reynolds Associates
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