Switzerland – Zurich
Welcome to the IMD Alumni Club of Switzerland – Zurich
Dear Fellow IMD Alumni, Dear Guests,
A warm welcome to the portal of the IMD Alumni Club Zurich (Switzerland). As an Alum of IMD you belong to one of the most influential and active networks in Switzerland and worldwide.
We typically hold 10 to 15 speaker events each year, together with other social events. The year’s programme is published on this site and we trust that you will agree that it is a full and lively list.
Our annual program is structured around CEO Luncheons, Breakfasts, Workshops, MBA only, and Social Events as follows:
CEO Luncheon / CEO Dinner: Meet the most interesting CEO’s of Global and Swiss companies
- Exclusive opportunity to listen to and discuss with Swiss business leaders.
- Examples: Swisscom CEO Urs Schäppi, SBB CEO Andreas Meyer.
- Location: Restaurant Zunfthaus Rüden, can vary.
- Timing: 11:30 am to 2:00 pm, or 17:30 to 20:00.
Breakfast Events: Real Learning. Real Impact
- Half an hour networking, ten minutes presentation by guest, and fifty minutes of lively Q&A.
- Examples: Microsoft GM Marianne Janik.
- Location: Hotel St. Gotthard, Bahnhofstrasse 87, 8001 Zürich.
- Timing: 7:00 to 8:30 am, usually on Fridays.
- A special Digitalization Series of 5 breakfasts with different IMD Faculty members takes place in 2018.
Factory Visits: Unique insights into Swiss-based companies
- Visits are led by the hosting company’s management, often involving the CEO.
- Examples: Pilatus Aircraft in Stans, Nidwalden.
- Location and Timing: On factory site, during the afternoon.
Business Skills Development Workshops: Build on what we learned at IMD
- Workshop help by professional coaches or subject matter experts.
- Examples: Lego Serious Play, Design Thinking.
- Location: In Zurich.
- Timing: 5:00 to 8:00 pm.
MBA Events for MBA: Reserved to MBA and EMBA Alumni
- Often in a workshop format, also offers social events for (E)MBA.
- Examples: Improvisation workshop, Practical Negotiation, Christmas drinks.
- Location: In Zurich.
- Timing: 5:00 to 8:00 pm.
Social Events: Network with fellow alumni
- Flagship event: the Annual Gala and Dance held in September.
- Opera visits in Zurich, Bregenz or Avenches, with dinner.
- Golf Tournament.
- ART Basel visit with guides.
You will find additional information as well as registration forms on:
- The Annual Program Calendar that is sent by e-mail to our members
- Our home page on the IMD website: https://www.imd.org/alumni/clubs/switzerland-zurich/home/
Dear Fellow IMD Alumni, Dear Guests,
We welcome every new member who is interested to enrich our already active community.
For membership of our IMD Alumni Club Zurich, only executives who have participated in an IMD program which meets the alumni eligibility criteria can join the Club.
There are two ways to joining the club:
- Go to the Alumni Club Membership page, select the Alumni of Zurich and click on Join.
- Send us an email via [email protected] and we will provide you as soon as possible with more information regarding the membership.
We would be very delighted to answer any question you might have regarding the club membership or any activity of the club.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +41 (0)79 850 6683
We are looking forward to welcoming you to the club!
Sincerely yours,
The Board
Current Position: Head Business Unit Specialty & Hospital at Stada Group
Working in the pharmaceutical industry, Philippe is responsible for all commercial activities in Switzerland for the company Stada.
Having a medical background, he fulfilled a Bachelor Degree in Economics, followed by an Executive MBA at Ashridge Business School/Lorange Institute.
He started his career as a Key Account Manager in Oncology/Urology for Sanofi-Aventis in Geneva, moved in 2007 to Zürich and started as Product Manager in Oncology for Bayer Healthcare and helped to build up an oncology franchise. After 13 years in different roles in Oncology, he started as a Marketing Manager in the Alpine region for Allergan (Neurology/Ophtalmology). Since November 2021, he is responsible for the Business Unit Specialty Care and member of the Executive Board.
Current Position: Marketing & Innovation Manager at BEKA Group
Brigitte has a strong track record in Strategic Marketing, Innovation and Business Development from world’s top retail brands (Nestlé, Kraft Foods, Lindt & Sprüngli) consumer focused SME’s and start-ups.
With her full dedication to put the customer at the heart of all her actions, she currently works as “Strategic Marketing & Human Centered Business Transformation Manager” for BEKA Group and as a Board Member in the FMCG and Telecom Sector.
Trained in Business Administration with a Master’s Degree from University of Zurich (lic.oec.publ.), Brigitte pursued her education in Digital Business Transformation with a “Digital Excellence Diploma”, from IMD Lausanne.
Current Position: Head of Software & Services (Solutions) at Logitech
Inês has + 17 years experience leading digital product management, innovation and transformation.
She worked in + 6 industries (tech for banking, insurance, automotive and HR), mostly in Europe and the US, and in companies of all sizes (fortune 500, mid-size and tech startups).
Inês moved to Switzerland in 2012 to study the fulltime MBA at IMD. Prior to the MBA she worked at Portugal Telecom as a business analyst and in-house consultant for the transformation office of the CEO. After the MBA she let business and product management teams at Solera.inc, The Adecco Group and Logitech.
Her passion for personal development and “giving back” is reflected in her voluntary commitments. She co-leads the “Leadership Inclusiveness” panel events at the IMD Alumni Club of Zurich to advance Women in Business and mentors young MBAs.
Inês is an Economics graduate from Nova School of Business and Economics of Lisbon.
Current Positions: CEO of Baumgartner Frey Family Office AG, CEO of Feldman Frey Philatelic Group AG, CEO of ImmoFrey AG.
- Attorney-at-law with in-depth knowledge and experience in Private and Corporate Banking, Structured Finance, Insurance and Turn- around Management as well as in a wide area of Corporate and International Law;
- Member of the Zurich Bar Association;
- Certified Mediator;
- Worked as Head Special Desk at Credit Suisse, Head Project Finance at Swiss Re, Risk Manager of a highly visible and reputable wealth owner, as well as a lawyer for ABB.
To reach directly:
Prof Tel: +41 43 343 9183
Website: www.bffo.ch
Current Positions:
- Chairman of the Board, Grupo Emergya
- Business Unit Director, Drupalera (by Emergya)
Rafa has 20 years of business development, sales, strategy and operations experience in the software industry. With a clear entrepreneurial mindset and a hands-on approach, he cofounded two successful startups.
As the Drupalera Business Unit Director he takes care of business development, sales and team leadership at Drupalera (by Emergya). This Business Unit aims at providing value by creating excellent Digital Products based on Drupal technology. Different Nestlé brands, Sevilla FC, Hipódromo de la Zarzuela and the European Stability Mechanism, are among their customers.
As Chairman of the Board of Directors at Grupo Emergya, he is running the Board sessions and keeps a focus on creating value for their shareholders while ensuring sustainable growth for the different businesses in the group.
He is also a Board member and co-founder of the Bellerive Impact Fund and co-founder and former co-leader of the IMD MBA Chapter in Zürich.
Current Position: Partner and Member of the Executive Board of Eraneos Switzerland, a global Management & Technology Consultancy group that shapes the digital future of organizations.
Consulting executive with 24+ years of professional experience in financial services, telecom and utilities with an emphasis on business transformation. Successfully building and leading high-performance teams. Building bridges between different cultures delivering projects with globally deployed teams.
Proven track record with leading digital transformation journeys, platform business design and technology adaptations. Known for helping firms to drive change smoothly from ideation to go-live.
Engaged with client executives to identify/create business opportunities and partnerships help designing the future of clients. Passion for coaching and supporting people to grow their professional careers.
To reach directly:
Prof Tel: +41 58 411 95 00
Website: www.eraneos.com
Current Position: Attorney at Law, Partner at CMS Rechtsanwälte, focusing on competition law, corporate law and M & A
Graduated from the University of St. Gallen in 1987 and was admitted to the bar in 1989. He has written his doctoral thesis on the relationship of Switzerland to the European Union and completed postgraduate studies at the Collège d’Europe in Brugues with the H.E.E. diploma.
He then worked for several years in the legal department of the Swiss multinational group Holcim where he has been promoted to the offices of General Counsel and Secretary of the Board of Directors. In 2000 Patrick Sommer joined our firm and is a partner since 2002.
Member of the Zurich and Swiss Bar Association, the International advisory board of the “St. Galler Internationales Kartellrechtsforum” and the Studienvereinigung Kartellrecht
To reach directly:
Prof Tel: +41 44 285 11 11
Website: www.cms-vep.com
Since 2024 I am serving as Club Secretary of the IMD Alumni Club Zurich, organising the events, taking care of the membership administration, answering all emails and questions and simply enjoying the wonderful interactions with all members that come along with the job.
To reach directly:
Mobile:
Since 2024 I am serving as Club Secretary of the IMD Alumni Club Zurich, organising the events, taking care of the membership administration, answering all emails and questions and simply enjoying the wonderful interactions with all members that come along with the job.
To reach directly:
Mobile:
Current Position: Partner, Executive Search Consultant at Roy C. Hitchman AG
With more than 20 years of management experience as General Counsel and Executive Committee member in multinational companies in the Life Science, FMCG, Commodities and IT industries, Alexander is conducting executive search on C-Level, Legal & Compliance and Non-Executive Board positions. Alexander started his professional career at the law firm Graf von Westphalen in Frankfurt having studied law in Passau, Birmingham, Vienna, Strasbourg and Munich, finalized with a Ph.D.
Current Positions:
- owner of the consulting firm Hölzle, Buri & Partner Consulting
- chairmen of the board at Biomed AG, director of the boards at Ferring AG, Innodent AG and advisor to the board of Galexis
- acting president of the vips (Association of Pharmaceutical Companies in Switzerland), Vice-Chairman of PhRMA Switzerland (Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturer of America), President of the Foundation refdata, board member of GS1 and member of EAK.(federal appraisal commission for the reimbursement of pharmaceuticals); advisor to the canton Zug for the economic development
To reach directly
Website: www.hbpc.ch
Prof. Tel. +41 41 727 67 87
Owner/CEO of CONTAG Management Consultancy, Olten; founded in Zug in 2002.
BA in Business Administration and Economics KSZ; holding diplomas in finance&banking of Swiss Finance Institute of University of Zurich; IMD Program for Executive Development; IMD Orchestrating Winning Performance.
Management Consultant to existing and new international and domestic financial organisations and service providers in asset, risk and real estate management, starting or expanding their institutional business in Switzerland;
Experienced professional in building and leading Institutional businesses; as a business and start-up manager leading several organisations and new service entities in Switzerland for Swiss and international asset managers/banks.
To reach directly:
Prof tel: +41 79 212 78 62
Website: www.contag.ch
Current Position: Chairman Helbling Group
With Helbling Group since 1984, Partner, Executive Chairman and CEO of Helbling Group, a leading professional services firm in technological innovation and business consulting.
Member of the Extended Executive Committee of SWISSMEM (Association of the Machinery, Electrical, Metal and Technology Manufacturing Companies of Switzerland), Member of the Board of Directors of several industrial companies, Chairman of the Regional Advisory Board of the Swiss National Bank (2002 ? 2010).
To reach directly:
Prof Tel: +41 44 438 1711
Website: www.helbling.ch