SVC general meeting: New board members and office
At the SVC general meeting on September 3, the course was set for the future of the SME network. In addition to the election of four new board members, information was also provided on the relocation of the SVC office. The association will move into its new offices in the ZID Bernapark in Deisswil (Stettlen BE) at the beginning of 2025.
Around 300 members attended the SVC's annual general meeting at the Hotel Bellevue Palace in Bern on September 3, 2024. After a review of the many inspiring Prix SVC awards and other SME events last year, as well as the approval of the annual accounts, the main items on the agenda included elections to the Board of Directors and farewells.
Three newcomers and a comeback
The SVC members elected four new members to the Board of Directors. In addition to three new faces (Judith Bellaiche, Kris Vietze and Thomas Sommerhalder), Dr. Beat Brechbühl, an old acquaintance, is also making his comeback to the Board of Directors.
An overview of the four newly elected SVC Board members:
– Judith Bellaiche, former GLP National Councillor and former head of Swico (business association for digital Switzerland), will now take up new mandates and activities, including in the SVC, following a professional reorientation.
– Kris Vietze is co-owner of the internationally active Swiss Baumer Group, which is at home in sensor technology. She is also well-known as a member of the Thurgau National Council and President of the Thurgau Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK).
– Thomas Sommerhalder will sit on the Board as a representative of Premium Gold Partner UBS. He has been familiar with the SVC for many years and during his time as CEO at Swisstulle was also a prizewinner on the Prix SVC stage (2nd place at the Prix SVC Ostschweiz 2006).
– Dr. Beat Brechbühl, Chairman/Managing Partner of Kellerhals Carrard, is returning to the SVC Board. The business lawyer is a co-founder and honorary member of the SVC and has been an active member of the Board for 20 years.
Entrepreneur Nicole Herzog and former SVC President Andreas Gerber stepped down as SVC Board members. Both were given a fitting farewell by the meeting.
There will be no change at the top of the SVC for the time being. The current Vice President, Hans Baumgartner, who has led the Board since January 2024, was re-elected for a further two-year term of office. He will remain responsible for the SVC's business until a new person is appointed to the presidency.
Exciting synergies at Bernapark in Deisswil
It was also announced at the general meeting that the SVC core team will be relocating in January 2025. The new location of the head office in the ZID (Centre for Innovation & Digitalization) in Bernapark offers attractive offices as well as interesting prospects for the SME network. "We are looking forward to our new location at ZID Bernapark and will quickly settle into this inspiring environment," says Managing Director Michael Fahrni with conviction.
Inspiring talk with Mark Streit
Following the statutory agenda items, the highlight of the event was a talk with former professional ice hockey player and entrepreneur Mark Streit. The former NHL All-Star and captain of the Swiss national team impressively demonstrated how his experience in top-class sport helps him today as an entrepreneur and what parallels there are between the two worlds.
Source: www.svc.swiss
