Industrial Executive & Non-Executive Board Moves in Switzerland

Q2 2025

Non-Executive Board Moves

Autoneum

  • Ferdinand Stutz stepped down from his role as Independent Board Member, effective April 2, 2025. On the same date, Yanni von Roy-Jiang was appointed as Board Member. Von Roy-Jiang has held several leadership roles across finance, purchasing, production, and quality management, and she has served as a member of the Management Board and Chief Operating Officer at Webasto Group, since 2022.

Adecco Group

  • On April 17, 2025, Martine Ferland, formerly the CEO and President of Mercer, was appointed for election to the Board of Directors at the Adecco Group's 2025 Annual General Meeting.

Adval Tech

  • At the Annual General Meeting of Adval Tech Group on May 15, 2025, René Rothen and Hans Dreier stepped down from their roles as Chairman and Board Member respectively. Dirk Lambrecht and Jörg Buchheim were elected to the Board of Directors, with Lambrecht assuming the position of Chairman. Additionally, Christoph Hammer and Beat Ritler were re-elected to their positions.

Alcon

  • Vice Admiral Raquel (Rocky) Cruz Bono stepped down from her role as Independent Board Member, effective May 6, 2025. Deborah DiSanzo Eldracher will join as an Independent Board Member, effective September 1, 2025. She brings over 30 years of experience in technology and healthcare, serving as President of Best Buy Health and overseeing the company's health technology business, since 2020.

Allreal Holding

  • Sandra Berberat Kecerski has been appointed as Board Member, effective May 2025, bringing a wealth of experience. Since 2020, she has been an independent entrepreneur and board member, gained in financial control, reporting, and audit roles across organizations such as the City of Winterthur, UBS, and Deloitte.

Avolta

  • At the ordinary general meeting on May 14, 2025, Xavier Bouton and Dr. Ekaterina (Katia) O. Walsh stepped down from their roles as Independent Board Members. Simultaneously, Bruno Chiomento and Jeanne P. Jackson were elected as new Independent Board Members. Chiomento brings extensive leadership experience from his tenure at Ernst & Young (EY) Switzerland Chairman and CEO, and currently holds several board position. Jackson, the Executive Chair of Spanx and founder of MSP Capital, also brings substantial expertise from senior roles and her current board membership at Monster Beverages.

Bachem Holding

  • The peptide manufacturer Bachem has Simone Wyss Fedele to its Board of Directors, on April 30, 2025. Wyss Fedele has been the CEO of Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE) since 2019, and she previously served as Chief Economist and Head of Public Affairs at Novartis International in Switzerland.

Banque Cantonale de Genève

  • Michèle Costafrolaz has stepped down from her position as an Independent Board Member, effective April 29, 2025. On the same date, Simona Terranova begun her role as Shareholder Representative.

Basilea Pharmaceutica

  • On April 16, 2025, Dr. Domenico (Domen) Scala stepped down from his role as Chairman, after serving on the Board since 2011, including nine years as Chairman. On the same day, Stephan Schindler was elected as the new Chairman, along with the re-election of several Board members and appointments to the compensation committee.

Basler Kantonalbank

  • Sonja Stirnimann and Prof. Dr. Felix Uhlmann have started a role as Independent Board Member, effective April 1, 2025. Stirnimann brings extensive expertise in corporate governance, financial services, risk management, and cybersecurity to her new role, while Prof. Dr. Uhlmann brings deep expertise in public economic law, regulation, and corporate governance.

Belimo

  • Dr. Martin Zwyssig will leave a role as Deputy Chairman in 2026. Dr. Zwyssig, a Swiss citizen born in 1965, brought significant expertise through his financial leadership roles and has been an integral member of the Board of Directors since 2011. Additionally, Tom Hallam joined the Board of Directors at the 2025 Annual General Meeting.

Berner Kantonalbank

  • Antoinette Hunziker-Ebneter will step down as Chairwoman of the Board of Directors at Berner Kantonalbank (BEKB) in May 2026 after twelve years on the board, including eleven years as Chair. Dr. Annelis Lüscher Hämmerli, a finance expert and BEKB board member since 2019, has been appointed as her successor, effective May 12, 2026. Lüscher Hämmerli, currently CFO at Helvetia Group, will step down from her role by April 2026 to prepare for her new position at BEKB.

Bucher Industries

  • At the General Meeting on April 16, 2025, all board members standing for re-election were confirmed, and Manja Greimeier was newly elected, bringing the board back to six members. Greimeier brings an extensive knowledge of sensor and camera technology for vehicle construction, which is becoming increasingly important for Bucher.

Bühler Group

  • Stefan Scheiber, former CEO of Bühler, will transition to Chairman of the Board of Directors following the February 2026 General Meeting, succeeding Calvin Grieder.

Burckhardt Compression

  • Ton Büchner will step down from the Board of Directors by the end of 2025, as part of a planned succession process. Jacques Sanche, an experienced industry leader and current CEO of Bucher Industries, will be proposed as a new Board Member at the July 2025 Annual General Meeting and will assume the role of Chairman on December 15, 2025.

Calida

  • On April 8, 2025, Gregor Greber stepped down as Independent Board Member, while Andrea Sieber joined as a Board Member, bringing legal expertise, industry knowledge, and governance experience to the Board. In the meantime, Felix Sulzberger - former CEO (2008-2016) and Interim Chairman (Executive) - was appointed Chairman (Independent Board Member). 

  • On 1 June, 2025, Thomas Stöcklin was appointed CEO after two years in the Board of Directors, including one year in the positions of Vice Chairman.

Cham Swiss Properties

  • On April 8, 2025, Cham Swiss Properties announced several changes to its Board. Prof. Dr. Annelies Häcki Buhofer and Philipp Buhofer joined as new Board Members. Dr. Christoph Caviezel transitioned from Deputy Chairman (Independent Board Member) to Board Member, while Dr. Felix A. Thöni assumed the role of Vice Chairman. Additionally, Prof. Dr. Marie-Noëlle Venturi-Zen-Ruffinen stepped down from her position as Independent Board Member.

Coca-Cola HBC

  • William (Bill) W Douglas III and Prof. Dr. Reto Francioni have respectively departed from their roles as Independent Director and Senior Independent Director, effective May 23, 2025. On the same date, Pantelis (Linos) D Lekkas and Stavros Pantzaris have begun their roles as Directors at the company.

Comet Holding

  • At the Comet Group's Annual General Meeting, on April 10, 2025, shareholders approved all board proposals, electing Benjamin Loh as the new Chairman, succeeding Paul Boudre, who did not seek re-election after two years on the board as Chairman. Loh brings as many years of experience as an executive in the electronics and semiconductor industry. Additionally, all other board members standing for re-election were confirmed for another year.

Die Mobiliar

  • The Swiss Mobiliar Holding has announced that Dr. Beat Brechbühl joined its Board, effective May 16, 2025. This comes as Elgar Fleisch steps down after twelve years due to term limits. Brechbühl has been a member of the Mobiliar Cooperative Board since 2018 and of the Governance Committee since 2022, making him well-acquainted with the company's values and culture.

Dormakaba

  • Thomas Aebischer stepped down from his role as Vice Chair (Independent Board Member) in May 2025, transitioning to the role of Independent Board Member. Kenneth (Ken) S. Lochiatto, formerly Independent Board Member, succeeded him on the same date.

Elma Electronic

  • Selina Casutt has been elected as a new Member of the Board of Directors, effective May 24, 2025. Casutt joins as the fifth Member of the Board, alongside Chairman Martin Wipfli and existing members Walter Häusermann, Bruno Cathomen, and Andy Egger, all of whom were re-elected for another term. Casutt brings extensive experience in project management and leadership in the photonics and innovation industry.

Emmi

  • During the Annual General Meeting on April 10, 2025, shareholders of the Emmi Group approved all proposals from the board of directors. Rebekka Iten and Christian Troxler were elected as new Board Members, succeeding Diana Strebel and Werner Weiss, who did not seek re-election. Anette Weber was elected to replace Christina Johansson, who passed away in February 2025.

Feintool

  • At Feintool's Annual General Meeting on April 29, 2025, Martin Klöti was confirmed as Vice Chairman, and Marcus Bollig and Heinz Loosli were re-elected for another year.

Fenaco Genossenschaft

  • Jean-Daniel Heiniger has been nominated as the new Chairman of the Board at the agricultural cooperative Fenaco. He is set to take over from Pierre-André Geiser, who will step down due to term limits, during the delegates' meeting in 2026.

Finma

  • René Keller has announced his resignation from the Board of Directors of the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA), effective June 30, 2025, to pursue new professional opportunities. Keller, who joined the FINMA board in February 2024, provided significant contributions in the areas of digitalization and new technologies during his tenure.

Flughafen Zurich

  • On May 1, 2025, Vincent Albers stepped down from his role as Independent Board Member, while Dr. Beat Schwab joined the Board as an Independent Board Member. Schwab brings extensive expertise in real estate, asset management, and executive leadership to the Board of Directors. Additionally, Richard Mark Campbell-Breeden stepped down from his role as Interim Chairman (Independent Director) on April 30, 2025.

Glarner Kantonalbank

  • On April 25, 2025, Benjamin Mühlemann and Sonja Stirnimann stepped down from their roles as Independent Board Members, while Angela Petruzzi joined the Board as an Independent Board Member, bringing expertise in finance, auditing, and business management.

Grifols

  • Anne-Catherine Berner has transitioned from her role as Independent Board Member to Chair, effective June 4, 2025. She succeeds Thomas Heinrich Glanzmann, who stepped down from his position as Chairman (External Board Member) on the same date.

Helvetia Property Group

  • In June 2025, Peter E. Bodmer has stepped down as Chairman and exited the Board, with Philipp Good, a Board member since 2024 and former CEO of Fisch Asset Management, assuming the role.

Hero

  • Herbert Scheidt, who has served as Vice Chairman and has been a board member since 2010, has been appointed Chairman in April 2025, succeeding Giovanni Ciserani. Scheidt brings extensive leadership expertise on financial markets, corporate governance, and strategic oversight from various organization.

Holcim

  • On May 14, 2025, Holcim underwent several board changes. Kim Fausing transitioned from Independent Director to Independent Chairman, succeeding Jan Philipp Jenisch, who stepped down as Chairman. Jürg Oleas and Hanne Birgitte Sørensen also left their roles as Independent Director and Vice Chairwoman, respectively. Meanwhile, Adolfo Orive and Dr. Sven Schneider joined the board as Independent Directors.

Insel Gruppe

  • Bernhard Pulver, the Chairman of the Board of Directors at Insel-Gruppe, will step down from the board at the beginning of November 2025 after seven years of service. Adrian Schmitter has been appointed to succeed him. Schmitter, a lawyer, has led the Kantonsspital Baden since 2014 and previously held roles as head of the Regionalspital Emmental and Secretary General of the Department of Health and Social Affairs in Canton Aargau.

Julius Baer Gruppe

  • On May 1, 2025, Noel Paul Quinn was appointed Chairman of Julius Baer, replacing Vice Chair Richard Mark Campbell-Breeden who had assumed this position temporarily as Interim Chairman, and Dr. Romeo Lacher, who stepped down from the role as Chairman on April 10, 2025. Quinn brings exceptional leadership and financial expertise to the Board of Directors, supported by his extensive career at HSBC, where he served as Group CEO.

KOMAX

  • Effective April 16, 2025, Dr. Andreas (Andy) Häberli transitioned from an Independent Board Member to the Chairman of KOMAX Holding. His predecessor, Dr. Beat Kälin, remains in the Board as an Independent Board Member. Additionally, Prof. Dr. Roland Siegwart stepped down from his position as Independent Board Member, and Daniel Lippuner was appointed Board Member.

Landis+Gyr

  • Landis+Gyr has announced significant changes to its Board of Directors, effective June 25, 2025. CEO Peter Mainz did not seek re-election to the Board, opting to focus on his role as company leader during its strategic realignment. 

  • The Board has also nominated Brett Carter and Steve Louden as new members, aligning with the company’s planned US listing. Carter brings expertise in the energy and utilities sector, while Louden offers strong financial management and leadership experience in technology companies, including as CFO of Roku.

Logitech International

  • Logitech’s Board of Directors has nominated Guy Gecht as the next Chairman, succeeding Wendy Becker, who will step down following the September 2025 Annual General Meeting. Gecht, a Board Member since 2019 and interim CEO from June to December 2023, was previously involved in a leadership dispute between founder Daniel Borel and the Board. Logitech CEO Hanneke Faber expressed strong support for Gecht's nomination, anticipating a smooth transition and productive collaboration similar to that with the outgoing Chair, Wendy Becker.

MCH Group

  • Prof. Dr. Michèle Florence Sutter-Rüdisser joined the board of directors at MCH Group as the delegate for the Canton of Basel-Stadt, succeeding Dr. Dagmar Maria Kamber Borens, effective May 27, 2025. She is a titular professor at the University of St. Gallen, leading the Institute for Law and Economics, and brings expertise in corporate governance, finance, controlling, and auditing. The Canton of Basel-Stadt, a shareholder, retains the right to two board seats, with Raphael Wyniger also representing its interests.

Metall Zug

  • Sandrine Zweifel joined the Board of Directors as Non-executive Member on May 9, 2025. Her extensive expertise in healthcare, research, and leadership is expected to contribute valuable perspectives to the company’s strategic endeavors.

MetrioPharm

  • Rudolf Stäger concluded his tenure as Chairman of MetrioPharm’s Board of Directors on April 17, 2025, following an extraordinary General Meeting that marked significant changes in the company’s leadership. His departure, along with three other Board members - Ekkehard Brysch, Dr. Werner Wolf, and Markus Wenner - was part of a planned restructuring to position the company for its next phase of clinical development and potential strategic exit.

  • MetrioPharm announced on April 23, 2025, that the newly established Board of Directors unanimously elected Dr. Stephan Rietiker as Chairman at its constituent meeting.

Migros Bank

  • Alois Schärli has been elected to the Board of Directors following the General Meeting on May 22, 2025. He succeeds Isabel Stirnimann Schaller, who stepped down after reaching the statutory term limit. Schärli previously served as CFO at Berner Kantonalbank until his retirement in April 2024 and held the position of Deputy CEO since 2019.

Mobility

  • Raoul Stöckle has been elected as the new Chairman of the Board of Mobility, the car-sharing cooperative, succeeding Markus Mahler, who steps down after five years. Stöckle, a Board Member since 2023 and founder of Bond Mobility and Ecotricity, is expected to guide Mobility through its transformation. At the cooperative's Delegates' Assembly, Laurent Roux, Director of Verkehrsbetriebe Luzern and Board Member of the Swiss Association of Public Transport (VöV), was also elected as a new Board Member. Current Board Members Carol Chisholm, Rebecca Karbaumer, and Matthias Wunderlin were re-elected.

Montana Aerospace

  • On May 20, 2025. Prof. Dr. Michael Tojner transitioned from Co-Chairman to Chairman, while Thomas Charles Williams stepped down from his role as Co-Chairman but continues supporting the company as an advisor on strategic initiatives. Dr. Michael Hubertus Pistauer, Co-CEO and CFO, has been elected to the Board of Directors and will gradually step back from executive duties to ensure a smooth CFO transition, while retaining an active oversight role. Additionally, Martin Ohneberg has been nominated to the Board, while Silvia Buchinger and Helmut Wieser stepped down from their position as Board Member, effective May 20, 2025. These changes align with Montana Aerospace's focus on its Aerostructures core business.

Nestlé

  • Nestlé Chairman Paul Bulcke stepped down from his position following the General Assembly on April 16, 2026, after nearly 50 years with the company. The Board of Directors has nominated Vice Chairman Pablo Isla as his successor to ensure a smooth transition. Bulcke, who served as Nestlé CEO from 2008 to 2016 and Chairman since 2017, stated his decision was driven by a desire to focus on family and personal interests.

On

  • On May 22, 2025, Kenneth (Ken) Allen Fox III stepped down from his role as Independent Director. On the same date, Helena Helmersson joined the company as an Independent Director and Member of the Nominations and Compensation Committee. Helmersson, who served as CEO of the H&M Group from 2020 to 2024, brings extensive experience in the fashion industry and sustainability, aiming to enhance On's strategic capabilities and governance to support future growth.

Orascom Development

  • On May 8, 2025, Dr. Franz Egle and Jürgen Fischer stepped down from their respective roles on the Board of Directors. Their departures are part of broader changes to the Board’s composition aimed at streamlining governance and adapting to the company’s evolving strategic priorities.

Orior

  • Orior announced on April 2, 2025, that it is restructuring its leadership with Monika Friedli-Walser was appointed Chairwoman of the Board of Directors succeeding Remo Brunschwiler, who is stepping down for personal reasons. Friedli-Walser also takes over operational management of the Group from interim CEO Filip De Spiegeleire as Delegate of the Board of Directors. Additionally, Sandro Fehlmann, a lawyer, joined the Board on the same date.

Peach Property Group

  • Eric Neil Assimakopoulos stepped down from his position on the Board of Directors on May 23, 2025, after contributing significantly to the company’s strategic direction as a real estate investor focused on residential properties in Germany. On the same date, Alexander Hesse joined the Board of Directors, bringing extensive expertise in European real estate and asset management.

Pilatus Aircraft

  • Pilatus plans to propose its long-serving Head of Research and Development, Bruno Cervia, for election to the Board of Directors at the next Annual General Meeting in spring 2026. Cervia, who has led R&D and served as Deputy CEO since 2009, brings deep technical expertise and leadership experience to the Board.

Repower

  • Barbara Janom Steiner has been appointed as the new Chairwoman of the Board at Repower on May 14, 2025. Nominated by anchor shareholders, including the Cantons of Graubünden and Zürich and the UBS Fund CEIS 3/UBS-CEIS 2, Barbara Janom Steiner aims to strengthen the local influence at the helm of Graubünden's largest energy provider. Janom Steiner, a former Graubünden government president, brings extensive knowledge of the canton and its structures, alongside her financial expertise, to Repower.

Ricola

  • Raphael Richterich was appointed Chairman on May 14, succeeding his father, Felix Richterich. Eva Richterich was elected Vice Chairwoman, and Birgit Conix, Cristina Kenz, and Hans Melotte were elected as new non-familymembers of the Board of Directors.

Rieter Holding

  • Hans-Peter Schwald stepped down from his position as Independent Board Member on April 24, 2025. Known for his strategic acumen and ability to navigate complex business environments, Schwald’s leadership has been integral to the success of the organizations he served.

Ruag International

  • The Swiss Federal Council has appointed Rainer Schulz as the new Chairman of the Board of Directors for technology group Ruag International, effective May 20, 2025. Schulz, a Board Member since 2020 and Vice Chairman since 2024, succeeded Remo Lütolf, who announced his retirement. Schulz previously served as CEO of Rehau Group from 2010 to 2018.

RUAG MRO Holding

  • At its General Meeting, Ruag elected Jean-Marc Lenz, former CEO of SR Technics Group and a veteran with over 30 years of aviation industry experience, as a new Member of the Board of Directors. The meeting also reaffirmed Jürg Rötheli as Chairman and re-elected Elisabeth Bourqui and Roland Leuenberger as Board Members, while Monica Duca Widmer, Nicolas Gremaud, and Sibylle Minder Hochreutener stepped down from their positions.

R&S Group Holding

  • On May 14, 2025, Board Members Rolf Lanz and Gregor Greber did not seek re-election at the 2025 Annual General Meeting, while Dr. Monika Krüsi and Déborah Carlson-Burkart were elected as Independent Board Members. This transition marks a significant step in R&S Group's evolution from a private equity-owned company to a publicly listed entity, enhancing its independence and diversity.

Schlatter Industries

  • The industrial company Schlatter has appointed Michael Hauser as new Chairman of the Board, taking over the role from Paul Zumbühl. Zumbühl remains on the three-member Board as Board Member.

Sensirion Holding

  • Dr. Anja Isabella Koenig has been appointed Lead Independent Board Member from her role as Independent Board Member on May 12, 2025.

SIG Group

  • In April, Ola Rollén was elected as the new Chairman, with Niren Chaudhary and Urs Riedener joining as Board Members, while Andreas Umbach, Matthias Währen, Wah-Hui Chu, and Laurens Last did not seek re-election. The Board decided not to recommend Laurens Last for re-election, due to a legal dispute, he is the largest shareholder with over a 10% stake.

Sika

  • Kwok (Frankie) Wang Ng has been appointed as Board Member, effective March 25, 2025. He succeeds Monika Baumann Ribar, who stepped down from her role as Independent Board Member on the same date.

Six Group

  • Thomas Wellauer, Chairman of the Board of Directors, has announced he will step down at the 2026 Annual General Meeting. Wellauer, who has served as Chairman since 2020, led the company through a strategic realignment, introducing a growth-oriented strategy, enhancing profitability, and revamping the leadership structure. The Board has begun the search for his successor, with Wellauer remaining in his role until the 2026 Annual General Meeting to support ongoing priorities.

St Galler Kantonalbank

  • Dr. Adrian Rüesch the long-standing Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors, resigned in May 2025 as he reached the age limit of 70 years. At the same time, Stefan Scheiber, CEO of Bühler Group since 2016, was elected to the Board of Directors.

STMICROELECTRONICS

  • On May 28, 2025, Simonetta Acri and Werner Lieberherr were appointed Board Members. Meanwhile, Donatella Sciuto and Janet G. Davidson stepped down from their role as Independent Board Member. Acri brings a wealth of expertise in banking, financial services, and corporate finance to the Board of Directors. Additionally, Lieberherr brings extensive international leadership experience across the energy, aerospace, and automotive industries, with a proven track record in driving strategic growth and operational excellence.

Swatch Group

  • Steven (Steve) Duncan Wood has begun his role as Board Member, effective May 21, 2025. He brings over 20 years of experience in capital markets with a proven ability to deliver strategic, operational, capital allocation, and governance enhancements that drive increased shareholder value.

Swiss Global Enterprise

  • Switzerland Global Enterprise has nominated Dr. Simone Wyss Fedele to become Chairwoman of the Board of Directors, effective 2027. She will succeed Chair Ruth Metzler-Arnold.

Swiss Steel Holding

  • Swiss Steel has proposed its CEO, Frank Koch, as a new member of the Board of Directors, following David Metzger's decision not to seek re-election. This change was announced in the invitation to the General Meeting published on Friday.

Sygnum Bank

  • On June 17, 2025, Dr. Luka Müller-Studer stepped down from his position as Chairman of the crypto bank Sygnum. On the same date, Sygnum expanded its Board of Directors by appointing Pia Tischhauser, Member of the Swiss Re Board of Directors, and Vinod Kumar, Deputy Chairman of the private equity group Everstone. Additionally, Sygnum announced that Gabriela Maria Payer, Interim Chairwoman since September 2024, has officially been appointed Chairwoman. These appointments will support the bank’s growth and globalization strategy.

Tecan Group

  • On April 10, 2025, Dr. Karen Jane Huebscher stepped down from her position as Independent Vice Chair, after one year in that position and a total of 12 years as a Member of the Board of Directors.

TX Group

  • On April 11, 2025, Martin Kall stepped down from his role as Vice Chairman, while Prof. Dr. Miriam Meckel was appointed Board Member. Prof. Dr. Meckel brings  extensive experience in media and communication, an entrepreneurial spirit, and expertise in the field of artificial intelligence.

Vaudoise Assurances Holding

  • At the 35th ordinary General Meeting of Vaudoise Versicherungen, shareholders approved all Board proposals, including the election of Francoise Hélène Béguin to the Board of Directors. Béguin, with over 30 years of experience, previously served as a partner at KPMG and chaired its Board from 2020 to 2024. Philippe Hebeisen was re-elected as Board President, with several Board and compensation committee members re-elected for one year.

V-Zug Holding

  • Prof. Dr. Annelies Häcki Buhofer stepped down from her role as Independent Board Member, effective April 8, 2025. Franziska Gsell and Dr. Carsten Liesener both started roles as Board Members on the same date. They bring extensive expertise in global marketing leadership, sustainability, strategic brand management, organizational transformation, and smart infrastructure to the Board of Directors.

Walliser Kantonalbank

  • In June 2025, Gabriel Décaillet has stepped down from a role as Vice Chairman (Independent Board Member) and Serge Métrailler left his position as Independent Board Member. In the meantime, Laure Deppierraz has been appointed Vice Chairman and Hervé Udriot Board Member.

WIR Bank

  • WIR Bank, which operates as a cooperative, has elected Germann Wiggli as the new Chairman of the Board of Directors, succeeding Marc Reimann, who stepped down due to age. Heinz Fuchs also retired and did not seek re-election, while Daniel Hug and Yvonne Seiler Zimmermann were appointed Board Members. Hug brings significant expertise in wealth management, audit and compliance, banking operations, and governance, while Seiler Zimmermann brings significant experience finance, academia, and governance.

World Economic Forum

  • Peter Brabeck-Letmathe has transitioned from Vice Chairman to Chair, effective May 2025. After 15 years in the Board of Director as Vice Chairman and extensive leadership roles, he brings a wealth of company and industry knowledge, along with a global perspective.

 


 

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Industrial Executive Moves

Adval Tech

  • CFO Markus Reber is set to leave the company by March 2026, and COO Jean Bäbler has retired and is succeeded by Ralf Eble, who began his role as COO on May 1, 2025. The Board of Directors has also appointed Eble as a Member of the Executive Management, effective immediately.

Autoneum

  • Autoneum has appointed Ulrike Reich as Head of Corporate Communications, effective immediately. She succeeds Claudia Güntert, who left the company last year. Reich brings over 25 years of experience in international communication roles and previously served as Vice President Corporate Communications at Freudenberg Sealing Technologies.

Aveniq

  • Tom Kleiber has been appointed as the new CEO of Aveniq, effective January 1, 2026, succeeding interim CEO Thomas Geier, who will return to his role as CFO. Kleiber brings over 30 years of experience in the ICT industry, including leadership positions at global companies such as Microsoft, Siemens, and Alcatel, as well as serving as CEO of Zetamind and Connectis.

Axpo

  • Axpo has appointed Michael Kessler as the new head of its nuclear energy division. He succeeds Roland Schmidiger, who is stepping down from operational leadership due to health reasons. Kessler assumed his role on May 1, 2025, and also took over the management of Kernkraftwerk Leibstadt. Schmidiger continues to support Axpo as a consultant and will be involved in various strategic projects.

Belimo

  • Belimo has appointed Sarah Bencic as the new Head of the Americas Division and Member of the Executive Committee, effective October 1, 2025. She succeeds James Furlong, who continues to support the company as Senior Advisor. Bencic, who joins from Honeywell, brings extensive expertise from her previous roles at 3M in the U.S. 

Bell Food Group

  • Bell Food Group has announced that CFO Xavier Buro has left the company for personal reasons, effective April 30, 2025. Buro, who has held the role since 2019, has his responsibilities managed internally until a successor is appointed.

Brugg Pipes

  • Brugg Pipes has appointed Martin Rigaud as its new CEO on June 2, 2025. Rigaud, who has been with the company since 2017, previously served as Chief Sales Officer and brings extensive expertise in the industry. He succeeds René Bollier, who led the company on an interim basis for the past six months.

Bucher Industries

  • Bucher Industries announced that Jacques Sanche has led the company for 10 years and is set to step down at the 2026 Annual General Meeting. He will hand over the CEO role to Matthias Kümmerle, currently division president of Bucher Emhart Glass.

  • Bucher Industries has appointed Martin Starkey as the new division president of Bucher Municipal and member of group management, effective January 1, 2026. Starkey, is the managing director of the truck-mounted sweeper segment. He succeeds Aurelio Lemos, who successfully expanded Bucher Municipal’s product range, market leadership, and electric vehicle development during his 23-year tenure and will remain available for transitional tasks.

Bühler Group

  • The Bühler Group has announced a leadership transition with Samuel Schär being appointed as the new CEO, effective January 2026, succeeding Stefan Scheiber. Schär has been with Bühler for 20 years and held various leadership roles including in Advanced Materials and global Services & Sales. He will take the helm as Scheiber transitions to Chairman of the Board following the February 2026 General Meeting. Scheiber, who has spent 35 years at Bühler and nearly a decade as CEO, will succeed Calvin Grieder as Chairman.

Bystronic

  • Beat Neukom stepped down from his position as CFO on April 17, 2025, a decision reached by mutual agreement. Subsequently, Bystronic has now appointed Javier Perez-Freije as its new CFO, effective December 1, 2025.

Clariant

  • Current CFO Bill Collins will retire and be succeeded by Oliver Rittgen, effective August 1, 2025. Rittgen brings extensive experience from his positions as CFO at Bayer CropScience and Bayer Consumer Health.

  • Additionally, Tatiana Berardinelli will step down from her role as Chief Human Resource Officer and Head of Division this year, her position has been temporary filled by Interim Chief Human Resources Officer Priya Thaman.

DSM-Firmenich

  • DSM-Firmenich has appointed Laetitia Pictet as Chief Legal, Risk and Compliance Officer, effective May 1, 2025, succeeding Jane Sinclair, who is retiring after a distinguished career. Pictet, with over 25 years of senior legal expertise, has been instrumental in the company's legal team since 2015 and joined the Executive Committee, reporting directly to CEO Dimitri de Vreeze.

Endress+Hauser

  • Endress+Hauser Schweiz has appointed Michael Staudinger as its new Managing Director, effective June 2025. He succeeds Alex Gasser, who now focuses on his role as "Corporate Sales Director." Staudinger previously served as Head of Sales at Regent Lighting in Basel.

Feintool

  • Torsten Greiner, who led the organization during a pivotal period of growth and transformation, stepped down as CEO of Feintool Group on May 31, 2025, by mutual agreement with the Board of Directors.

  • Lars Reich, previously Head of Sales and Head of the Business Unit Fineblanking and Forming Europe, has been appointed CEO, effective June 1, 2025. Reich brings extensive leadership experience within Feintool, having held various executive roles, including Chief Sales Officer.

Forbo

  • Jens Fankhänel has decided to step down as CEO of Forbo following a temporary leave due to illness in February. Despite his recovery progressing well, Fankhänel officially left the company on April 30, 2025, to pursue opportunities outside Forbo.

  • Andreas Jaeger, the CFO of Forbo, announced on June 30 that he will leave the company in the fourth quarter of 2025 to pursue a new professional opportunity.

Georg Fischer

  • Thomas Hary has been appointed as President of GF Piping Systems at Georg Fischer, effective June 1, 2025. He succeeds Andreas Müller, who managed the division on an interim basis while serving as CEO following Joost Geginat's departure last autumn. Hary has been with Georg Fischer since 2005 and has extensive experience across GF's divisions and his leadership in strengthening global cooperation within the company position him well for his new role.

Gurit

  • Dr. Tobias Lührig has been appointed as CEO of Gurit, effective July 1, 2025. He succeeds Dr. Javier Perez-Freije, who stepped down as Interim CEO. Lührig, previously CEO of Bischof+Klein, brings over 20 years of leadership experience in family-owned and private equity-backed companies. His expertise in operational efficiency and strategic realignment positions him well to lead Gurit's ongoing transformation.

Hero Group

  • Swiss food company Hero Group has appointed Christian Schierbaum as CEO, effective June 1, 2025, succeeding Rob Versloot, who retired after leading the company for over 12 years. Schierbaum joined Hero in 2019 as Chief Marketing Officer and later became Chief Business Officer, bringing over 20 years of FMCG experience from companies like Wella and Mondelēz International.

Idorsia

  • Idorsia has announced the appointment of Dr. Srishti Gupta as CEO, effective July 1, 2025, succeeding André C. Muller, who is set to retire and will continue to serve as an advisor to ensure a smooth transition. Dr. Gupta, a seasoned leader with over 20 years of experience in global health and biopharmaceutical innovation, has been a Board Member since 2021 and will continue serving as an Executive Board Member.

Implenia

  • Jens Vollmar, previously Head of Division Buildings, succeeded André Wyss as CEO, effective April 1, 2025. Vollmar has been with Implenia since 2013 and has held key roles, including heading the Buildings Division and serving as Country President for Switzerland.

Insel Gruppe

  • Jennifer Diedler has been appointed as the new President of the Executive Board at Insel Gruppe, transitioning from her current role as CEO and Medical Director at Saarland University Hospital. She is scheduled to begin her tenure at Insel Gruppe at the turn of the year, following the interim leadership of Christian Leumann, who took over after Uwe Jocham's departure.

Interroll

  • Dr. Johannes van der Beek has started a role as Chief Technology Officer, effective April 1, 2025. Dr. van der Beek's joined Interroll in 2017 and possesses a combination of technical expertise, strategic leadership, and innovation management positions.

Kongsberg Automotive

  • Christian Johansson stepped down from his position as CFO, effective June 1, 2025, and was succeeded by Erik Magelssen on the same date. With over 30 years of experience, Magelssen has held interim CFO roles since August 2023, most recently at Hoff, and previously served as CFO at Vow (2016–2023), where he drove the company’s transition to the Oslo Stock Exchange, facilitated strategic acquisitions, and led significant refinancing efforts.

  • Additionally, Dr. Christian Amsel departed his role as Chief Technology Officer and Division President, effective May 31, 2025.

Kühne+Nagel

  • Kühne+Nagel has appointed Marcus Claesson as Chief Information Officer (CIO), effective September 1, 2025. Claesson, who joins from Daimler Truck, will also become a member of the Executive Board. He succeeds Martin Kolbe, who is retiring on October 1, 2025, after 20 years of service on the Board.
  • Kühne+Nagel has appointed Shirley Sharma Paterson as the new Global Head of Sales, effective August 1, 2025. Paterson, a U.S. citizen with over 25 years of international experience in logistics and supply chain management, previously worked at DB Schenker. She will report directly to CEO Stefan Paul.

Leonteq

  • Isabelle Hauser has been appointed as Head of HR, effective May 8, 2025. She succeeds Markus C. Schmid, who stepped down from his role as Chief People Officer on the same date. Hauser brings a wealth of experience, expertise, and leadership to the company, with a career spanning over 17 years in human resources.

Lonza

  • Andreas Bohrer has been appointed as Lonza's Chief Legal & Corporate Affairs Officer, a newly created role, effective July 1, 2025. He joined the company's Executive Committee in this capacity. Bohrer has been with Lonza since 2015 as Group General Counsel and Company Secretary, overseeing Legal, Ethics & Compliance, IP, and other key functions.

MCH Group

  • Andrea Zappia, the Board Chairman, has been serving as interim CEO since the end of March, following the departure of Florian Faber.

MET Group

  • MET Group has appointed Noubi Ben Hamida as Group CFO and Ankur Khera as CFO of the Sales & Trading Division, strengthening its top financial leadership. Noubi Ben Hamida, an electrical engineer with over 25 years of international energy sector experience from TotalEnergies, will also join the executive board and focus on strategic areas such as Green Assets and Holding Operations.

Migros Group

  • The Migros Group has appointed Valérie Schelker as the new Head of the Human Resources Management Department and Quality Organizations, effective November 1, 2025. In this role, Schelker will also join the Executive Board of the Migros Cooperative Federation. She brings extensive experience in HR management from her current position at Swiss Post.

Mobilezone Group

  • Bernhard Mächler, currently the CFO of Mobilezone Switzerland, will assume the role of Group CFO of Mobilezone, effective October 1, 2025. He succeeds Andreas Fecker, who is leaving the company after 18 years to pursue new professional opportunities.

Montana Aerospace

  • Dr. Michael Hubertus Pistauer was appointed Co-CEO/CFO, effective May 20, 2025. As a seasoned CFO and Managing Director across various organizations, Dr. Pistauer has a strong track record of financial stewardship and brings a wealth of leadership, financial expertise, and entrepreneurial experience.

Nestlé

  • Nestlé has appointed Jeff Hamilton, currently head of Purina PetCare Zone Europe, as the new leader for the North and South America Zone (AMS), effective July 1, 2025. Hamilton also joined the company's Executive Board. His predecessor, Steve Presley, retired after nearly 30 years at Nestlé, stepping down from the Executive Board and his role as AMS Zone Leader at the end of April 2025.

On

  • Martin Hoffmann has been appointed as CEO of On and On Holding, effective July 1, 2025, succeeding Marc Maurer, who stepped down from these positions. Additionally, Katarina Berg has been appointed as Chief People Officer at On Holding, effective August 1, 2025, replacing Noa Perry-Reifer, who will depart from the role on the same date.

Pilatus Aircraft

  • Effective January 1, 2026, Igor Medici will succeed Bruno Cervia as Vice President Engineering and join the executive management team, while Ioannis Papachristofilou, currently Head of Government Aviation, will become Deputy CEO, both bringing strong internal experience and continuity to Pilatus's leadership.

R&M

  • Dr. Roger Baumann has been appointed as the new CEO of R&M, succeeding Michel Riva, who led the company since 2012 and significantly expanded its global presence and sales. Dr. Baumann brings decades of international management experience, including leadership roles at Siemens and Büchi Labortechnik, where he drove innovation and strategic growth.

  • Jonas Güresir has been appointed as the new COO and member of the Executive Management at R&M, succeeding Markus Stieger, who will retire in July 2025 after 19 years with the company.

Romande Energie

  • Romande Energie has appointed Thibaud Weick as the new Head of the Energy business unit, effective in July 2025, succeeding Guillaume Fuchs. Weick, who has led RE Ventures since June 2023, brings expertise in integrating Cleantech and Proptech innovations into the energy sector, supporting start-ups, and advancing strategic projects. His appointment is expected to drive innovation and strengthen Romande Energie’s position in the Western Swiss energy market.

  • Additionally, a search is underway for a successor to Oliviero Iubatti, the retiring Head of the Real Estate division.

R&S Group

  • R&S Group has announced the appointment of Eduardo Terzi as the new CEO, effective June 1, 2025, following Markus Laesser’s decision to step down to focus on personal projects. Terzi, who previously led the Transformer Division at Siemens Energy, brings valuable industry experience and a strong network from his previous role leading the Transformer Division at Siemens Energy.

Ruag International

  • André Wall, CEO of Ruag International and Beyond Gravity, has announced his resignation, effective mid-2026, following the Swiss Federal Council's decision to retain Beyond Gravity under state ownership. Wall, who has led Ruag International for four and a half years, focused on transforming the company into a specialized space supplier during his tenure.

SBB

  • SBB has appointed Reto Liechti as the new Head of the Passenger Transport Production Division and member of the Group Executive Board, effective June 27, 2025, succeeding Linus Looser, who now leads the Infrastructure Division.

Schindler

  • Nitin Chalke, currently Country Head Schindler India, joined the Executive Board as Asia-Pacific Head, succeeding Robert Seakins, who retired after 22 years with Schindler, including eight years on the Group Management Board. Chalke’s leadership has significantly expanded Schindler's presence in India, and his broad experience in Asia Pacific and North America positions him well for this new role.
  • Franz-Xaver Simmen has been appointed as the new CEO of Schindler Switzerland, effective April 1, 2025, succeeding Patrick Hess, who transitions to the executive management team to oversee the Northern Europe region.

Selecta

  • Selecta’s CEO Christian Schmitz stepped down and Michael Rauch took over as interim CEO in May 2025. Schmitz views the recent recapitalization of Selecta as the "ideal moment" for a leadership change. Rauch, previously CEO and CFO at CompuGroup Medical and CFO at Douglas Group, is noted for his financial expertise, which is crucial following the recapitalization. Schmitz is working with Rauch for a smooth transition.

  • Selecta has appointed Jasprit Sahnsi as its new Group General Counsel. Sahnsi joined Selecta in 2018 as Group Deputy General Counsel and was promoted to Deputy General Counsel & Internal Audit Leader in 2022.

Siefried

  • Olesia Silanteva has been appointed as CHRO, effective April 1, 2025, succeeding Irene Wosgien. Olesia is a seasoned people & organization leader with over 20 years of experience in large-scale operations and transformations across industries, bringing expertise from her leadership roles at Sandoz and Novartis.

SoftwareOne

  • SoftwareOne Holding has announced the appointment of Hanspeter Schraner as the new Group Chief Financial Officer, effective July 1, 2025, succeeding Rodolfo J. Savitzky. Schraner, a Swiss national with over 20 years of international financial leadership experience, brings expertise in financial management, transformation, and M&A across various industries.

Sonova

  • Eric Bernard will succeed Arnd Kaldowski as CEO, effective October 1, 2025, following Kaldowski's retirement for personal reasons. Bernard joins with extensive expertise from WS Audiology and Essilor, and more than 30 years of international experience in commercial leadership within the hearing care and optical sectors.

Swiss Post

  • Carole Rentsch has been appointed as the new Head of Human Resources at Swiss Post, succeeding Valérie Schelker, who is moving to Migros Group. Currently responsible for the logistics division, Rentsch will assume her new role on September 1 and oversee the company’s 45,000 employees while joining the executive board.

  • Pascal Grieder has been appointed as the new CEO of Swiss Post, effective November 1, 2025, succeeding Roberto Cirillo, who stepped down in March. Grieder, a former CEO of Salt Mobile and an expert in digital transformation, brings extensive leadership experience in telecommunications and innovation, having driven growth and profitability at Salt and led digital business development at McKinsey Switzerland.

U-Blox

  • Helen Xu has been appointed Chief Growth Officer and a member of the Executive Management, effective April 1st. Xu succeeds Markus Schaefer, who left his position and the company on the same day. With over 30 years of experience in the automotive and semiconductor industries, Xu previously served as Senior Vice President and executive manager at Gentherm, and has held positions at Infineon and Lear Corporation.

Vetropack

  • Vetropack has announced that Dr. Lukas Burkhardt will take over as CEO, effective January 1, 2026. He succeeds Johann Reiter, who will step down on December 31, 2025. Dr. Burkhardt is expected to bring in-depth knowledge of the industry, international experience, strategic foresight and entrepreneurial drive to the company.

V-ZUG

  • Christoph Kilian has started a role as CEO, effective April 1, 2025, replacing Peter Spirig who left his position on the same day. Kilian a seasoned leader is expected to further develop the strategic thrust and drive the profitable growth of the manufacturer of household appliances.

Wander

  • Wander has appointed Marco Zanchi as its new CEO, effective August 19, 2025, succeeding interim co-leaders Christina Kieni Römer and Stefan Stucki. Zanchi brings over 20 years of experience in the food and consumer goods industry, most recently serving as Regional General Manager Food Benelux & Nordics at Nestlé in Amsterdam.

 


 

Contact

Dominik Brülisauer
Russell Reynolds Associates
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dominik.bruelisauer@russellreynolds.com