Andreas Gerber is the new president of the Swiss Venture Club

The founder and long-time president of the Swiss Venture Club, Hans-Ulrich Müller, handed over his office to his successor Andreas Gerber on September 6. The Swiss Venture Club has emerged strengthened from the generational change that has been brought about, according to the announcement sent out by this important SME network on the occasion of its ordinary general meeting. With the previous Vice President Andreas Gerber, the club has once again been able to win over an outstanding personality for the presidency.

Andreas Gerber: A connoisseur of the subject matter

Gerber knows the SVC from the inside; he has been a member of the board for two years and was previously regional manager and jury member of the Espace Mittelland and Wirtschaftsraum Zürich regions. As Head of Credit Suisse's Swiss SME business, he is well aware of the challenges and opportunities facing Switzerland as a center of industry and is looking forward to his new task: "Switzerland must continue to think and act entrepreneurially in the future if it wants to maintain its prosperity. I would like to make a contribution to this with the SVC." In a solemn, symbolic act, outgoing President Hans-Ulrich Müller handed him the scepter in front of around 400 assembled members. In addition to Gerber, the meeting also re-elected co-founder Beat Brechbühl to the board. Pierre-Olivier Chave, Heinrich Christen, and Marc Werner, who have been elected until 2018, also remain on the executive committee.

Two National Councillors and three business representatives new to the Board of Directors

At the same time, the meeting elected five new board members: Marcel Dobler, Fabio Regazzi, Corinne Fischer, Thomas Trachsler and Andreas Arni. Marcel Dobler, a member of the National Council from St. Gallen and entrepreneur, became known as the founder and long-standing CEO of Digitec AG. His council colleague Fabio Regazzi lives in Ticino, is chairman of the board of the family business Regazzi Holding SA in Gordola and president of the Ticino Industrial Association (AITI). Lucerne entrepreneur Corinne Fischer is Chairman of the Board of Directors and co-owner of Bataillard & Cie AG and a member of various foundations and boards of directors. Thomas Trachsler, a business economist from Berne, was appointed to the Mobiliar Executive Board in 2010 and was responsible for market management for seven years. In July of this year, he assumed the new function of Chief Operation Officer (COO). Finally, Andreas Arni has held various management positions in the financial sector and has headed the core area Entrepreneurs & Executives at Credit Suisse since 2016. The new board members bring all the qualities to substantially develop the association and provide access to new networks. In the preceding selection of candidates, the board paid attention not only to a strong connection with the SME economy, but also to a balanced representation of regions and industries.

Federal Councillor Schneider-Ammann pays tribute to the outgoing president

The departing board members were thanked by the general meeting and bid farewell with thunderous applause. In addition to Brigitte Breisacher, Denis Grisel and Silvio Tarchini, these are the two SVC co-founders Elisabeth Zölch Bührer and Hans-Ulrich Müller. Under long-time president Müller, the SVC has developed into one of the most important entrepreneurial networks in Switzerland over the past 16 years. Thanks to the Prix SVC awards ceremonies, at which exemplary companies are honored, and numerous other events, the association now regularly receives a great deal of media attention. Müller's achievements were honored at the general meeting. To thank him, the association not only presented him with a specially produced commemorative publication, but also appointed him honorary president - accompanied by a standing ovation. Even the Federal Councillor and Head of the Department of Economic Affairs, Johann N. Schneider-Ammann, did not miss the opportunity to make a personal appearance. In a laudatory speech, he congratulated Müller on his extraordinary achievements and thanked him for his commitment to Switzerland as a place to work.

Gerber relies on continuity

At the end of the event, which was moderated by dulcimer player Nicolas Senn and accompanied by music, Andreas Gerber also thanked his predecessor for his many years of commitment and for handing over the association in such a successful and well-managed manner. "Together with the board of directors, I will do everything in my power as president to continue on this successful path," Gerber explained. "To do this, we cannot rest on our laurels, but must continue to develop our club in the future. In doing so, the two greatest strengths of the club will remain at the center under my leadership: the high-quality contact opportunities and the shared emotions."

More information: Swiss Venture Club