Members
APIA Swiss offers mutual benefits to its individual members
The union and diversity of personalities and experiences are a force for knowledge sharing, training, developing subjects useful to companies, reassuring oneself in the exercise of one’s mandates, working for the recognition and enhancement of the function of independent directors, building group legitimacy and notoriety from which everyone benefits.
APIA Swiss helps its members:
- Promote the role of independent professional director.
- Achieve excellence in the fulfilment of their mandates.
- Deepen their knowledge, in particular by relying on the network of expert partners.
- Exchange experiences and ideas between members.
- Develop their know-how and their own projects in order to increase APIA’s influence.
Admission criteria
- Being or having been recently and durably a SME’s general manager, in a position of true decision-maker, and having acted in this capacity with ethics.
- Demonstrating a motivated interest in the role of independent director.
- Adhering to and signing APIA’s mission, charter and internal rules and regulations.
- Having professional autonomy and sufficient resources not to depend on APIA and being able to maintain its independence in the exercise of the mandates it would be entrusted with.
- Being able and willing to invest time to develop and share one’s experience with others.
Admission procedure
Candidates are sponsored by the member or partner who introduced them to APIA. They send a CV and a motivation letter to the attention of the President of APIA Swiss. CV+ML are sent to all APIA members who have 15 days to veto or make a comment to the Executive Committee. A veto is a reasoned objection that can only be based on factual elements relating to the candidate’s behaviour with respect to APIA’s values. Any veto will result in the closure of the application file. In the absence of a veto, the candidate meets three APIA members. The conclusions of the interviews are reported to the Executive Committee, which then takes the decision to accept or reject the application or to propose the most suitable status to the applicant. This decision is based on the above-mentioned criteria and may also be based on the impression felt during the interviews. Members are individuals and must pay a membership fee of CHF 750 for the year 2019.
Associated Members
APIA Swiss offers a training ground for its future active members
Our associate members have the same rights and duties as active members. However, they may not apply for requests for independent directors received from companies.
Admission criteria
Our associate members have the potential to eventually meet the criteria for admission of active members and the willingness to become independent directors. The decision is left to the discretion of the Executive Committee.
Admission procedure
The candidates followed the procedure for admission of active members and their applications were rejected because they did not meet all the admission criteria. The Executive Committee may then decide to integrate them as associate members. The membership fee for associate members is CHF 750 for the year 2019.
List of members
Anne Abriat
Member
Profile
a.abriat@apiaswiss.ch
French-speaking Switzerland section
Languages: French, English
Specialties
- Specialty Chemicals, Cosmetics, Perfumes & Flavours and Start-ups
- Academic sector CNRS, INSERM, EPFL, CISA, HUG…
- R&D and Innovation
- B2B business development International
- Alignment of human, organizational and technological elements
- Innovation Management
Jean-Christophe Barth
Member
Profile
jc.barth@apiaswiss.ch
French-speaking Switzerland section
Languages : German, French, English, Spanish, Russian, Portuguese
Specialties
- Management of complex, large scale and long-term contracts
- Infrastructure project, public tenders (training at the Federal Office for Construction and Logistics)
- Resolution of disputes (e. g. dispute boards, international commercial arbitration, commercial mediation)
- Sustainable development objectives and Public-Private Partnerships
- Company mutation and due diligence
- Governance redesign of organizations of all sizes (e.g. internal regulations, strategic alignment, team charter and ethics)
Olivier Bédat
Chairman
Profile
o.bedat@apiaswiss.ch
French-speaking Switzerland section
Languages : French, English, Spanish, German
Specialties
- Strategy and Governance
- General Management
- Digital strategy
- Change management
- Development and management of franchised networks
Grégoire Bouille
Treasurer
Profile
g.bouille@apiaswiss.ch
French-speaking Switzerland section
Languages : French, English, German, Italian
Specialties
- Strategy and Governance
- General Management
- Change management, Turnarounds, Restructuring
- Business Development, Sales & Marketing (national & international)
- Strategical due diligences, M&A
- Family Office, VC, Private Equity
- Industries: Manufacturing, Luxury goods, Cutlery & FMCG, Construction, Food & Tobacco, Biotech, Investment banking, Services
François Bouteiller
Committee Member
Profile
f.bouteiller@apiaswiss.ch
French-speaking Switzerland section
Languages : English, Spanish, French, Italian
Specialties
- Air transport sector
Daniel Brandenburger
Member
Profile
d.brandenburger@apiaswiss.ch
French-speaking Switzerland section
Languages: French, English, German, Mandarin
Specialties
Transition Management, International SMEs
- Market development, China, Asia
- Operational and production analysis, audit and due diligence
- Investment and acquisition Ombudsman
- Start-up Coach
Katia Coudray
Member
Profile
French-speaking Switzerland section
Languages : French, English, German
Specialties
- General management, strategy, restructuring, turnaround, merger, integration
- Innovation, product range management
- Business development, opening of international subsidiaries
- Risk management
- Impact, sustainability, CSR
- Sectors: Finance, banking, investments, textile production, distribution
Fouad Dadi
Member
Profile
f.dadi@apiaswiss.ch
French-speaking Switzerland section
Languages: French, English, Arabic, Spanish
Specialties
- Strategy
- Brand building
- Business Models
- Consumer understanding, Market landscaping
- Advanced analytics
- Sectors: Fast Moving Consumer Goods, Luxury, Retail and distribution
Florent Decaillet
Member
Profile
f.decaillet@apiaswiss.ch
French-speaking Switzerland section
Languages: French, English, German
Specialties
- Strategy and Governance
- International SMEs and family businesses
- Business development, Sales and Marketing
- Mutation of companies and management of complex projects
- Strategical due diligences, M&A
- Risk management
- Sectors: Multi-industry, Health, MedTech, Services
Valérie Ducrot
Member
Profile
v.ducrot@apiaswiss.ch
French-speaking Switzerland section
Languages: French, English
Specialties
- Gas and energy sector
- Management
Philippe D. Etter
Member
Profile
p.etter@apiaswiss.ch
French-speaking Switzerland section
Languages: French, English
Specialties
- Industrial management
- MedTechs
- Supporting start-ups
Didier Forget
Member
Profile
d.forget@apiaswiss.ch
French-speaking Switzerland section
Languages: French, English
Specialties
- Industry ; Heating, Ventilation and Air conditioning, electro-mechanical, technique, energy
- Definition and implementation of business strategies with tool 4S ‘Know yourself’
- International development (organic and acquisitions)
- Experience of group CEO (before 2016), then Boards member
- Experience of companies own by investment funds, Venture Capital or Families
- Strategic due diligence
- Program of ‘business ethics’
Catherine Gambotto
Member
Profile
c.gambotto@apiaswiss.ch
French-speaking Switzerland section
Languages: French, English, Italian
Specialties
- General, financial and strategic management
- International SMEs and family businesses
- IT sectors, game-changer, sharing economy
- Technology watch, digital transformation strategy
- Change and risk management
- Good corporate governance practices
- Promotion of the role of professional women in top management and board of directors, OWIT Lake Geneva, BPW Switzerland
- Member of the Swiss Circle of Women Directors
Stéphan Grouitch
Member
Profile
s.grouitch@apiaswiss.ch
French-speaking Switzerland section
Languages: French, English
Specialties
- Strategy and Corporate Governance
- Powering of Management Teams/Organizations
- Change and Program Management
- Crisis Management
- Multi-industry, consulting/service activities
Katia Gutknecht
Associate Member
Profile
k.gutknecht@apiaswiss.ch
French-speaking Switzerland section
Languages: French, English
Specialties
- Value chain management.
- Risk management.
- Complex projects and change Management.
- Audit and organizational excellence.
- SME and start-up coach.
- Adult trainer (HES-SO).
- Sectors: FMCG, food, construction, L&D, fragrances & flavours, industry, luxury
Patrick Hendier
Member
Profile
p.hendier@apiaswiss.ch
French-speaking Switzerland section
Languages : French, English, German, Spanish
Specialties
- General management
- IT strategy and IT governance
- Digital and IT security strategy
- Change management
Anne-Laure Héritier
Committee Member
Profile
French-speaking Switzerland section
Languages : french, english, spanish
Specialties
- Corporate and Foundations strategy and governance
- Asia / EU / Africa trading companies
- Investment match-making and project management
- International SMEs and family businesses
- Start-ups
- Sectors: Paramedical, PPE, Education, VR
José Veloso
Member
Profile
j.veloso@apiaswiss.ch
French-speaking Switzerland section
Languages: French, English, Portuguese
Specialties
- SME Management
- M&A (sales, mergers and acquisitions)
- Recruitment of managers, executives and directors
- Leadership coaching
- Organizational, strategic and operational development
- Sales and negotiation
- Value chain digitalization
Françoise Lamotte
Associate Member
Profile
French-speaking Switzerland section
Languages: French, English, Japanese
Specialties
- General Management
- Strategy, Digitalization and Innovation
- New business models, diversification and internationalization
- Customer Experience
- Sectors: Insurance and Risk Management
Laura Perret
Member
Profile
l.perret@apiaswiss.ch
French-speaking Switzerland section
Languages: French, German, English
Specialties
- Governance and Strategy
- Sustainable development
- Executive search, Talent management
- Supporting change
- Conflict prevention, management and resolution – mediation
- Sectors: Machine industry, watchmaking, insurance, services, IT, education, healthcare
Raphaël Leveau
Member
Profile
French-speaking Switzerland section
Languages : French, English, German
Specialties
- Mergers & Acquisitions (buy-side, sell-side, financing, Management Buy Out/In)
- Financial, accounting and tax due diligence
- Business valuation
- Financial engineering
- Swiss Certified Accountant and Certified Audit Expert
Eric Maire
Secretary
Profile
e.maire@apiaswiss.ch
French-speaking Switzerland section
Languages: French, English
Specialties
- Strategy and governance for technology companies
- International business development
- Company creation and liquidation
- Financing strategies
- Training in corporate governance
- Startups
Christophe Marchal
Committee Member
Profile
c.marchal@apiaswiss.ch
French-speaking Switzerland section
Languages: French, English, Russian
Specialties
- General management, operational management
- Business development, marketing
- Change management, crisis situations, communication, digital
- International (creation of subsidiaries, expansion, development)
- Governance
- Start-ups, blockchain, digital assets
- Sectors: multi industries, FMCG, luxury, retail, services, NGO
Pierre Morgon
Member
Profile
p.morgon@apiaswiss.ch
French-speaking Switzerland section
Languages: French, English, Spanish
Specialties
- Strategic thinking and creative execution
- Partnership and alliance management
- M&A Strategy and Integration
- Financing and valuation
- Crisis Management
- Sectors: Biotech, primary- specialty- and hospital care, vaccine, medical technology, healthcare IT
Alexandre Pahud
Member
Profile
a.pahud@apiaswiss.ch
French-speaking Switzerland section
Languages: French, English, German (Swiss-German)
Specialties
- Finance, audit, internal control
- Occupational benefit plans and social insurance
- Governance and strategy for foundations and NGOs
- Crisis management (governance and/or financial)
- Leadership, coaching of the foundation boards
- ESG, Climate Change, Carbon Footprint
- Non-violent communication and emotional intelligence
Raymond Palmen
Member
Profile
r.palmen@apiaswiss.ch
French-speaking Switzerland section
Languages : Dutch, French, English, German, Spanish
Specialties
- General Management
- Strategy
- Marketing B2B/B2C
- Business Development
- Innovation, Start-Ups
- Change management
- Governmental & Regulatory Affairs
David Pittet
Committee Member
Profile
French-speaking Switzerland section
Languages : french, english, german, swiss-german, spanish
Specialties
- General Management, Finance, Strategy and Governance
- Change management, Turnarounds, Restructuring
- Business development, opening of subsidiaries
- Risk management
- Sustainable investment, ESG, Impact
- Sectors: Finance, Insurance, Pension Funds, Public Sector, Consulting, Pharmaceuticals, Technology
Serge Reymond
Committee Member
Profile
s.reymond@apiaswiss.ch
French-speaking Switzerland section
Languages : French, English, German
Specialties
- Business Development
- Digital transformation
- Team building and talent management
- Change and innovation management
- Turnarounds and restructurings
- Crisis Management
- Sectors: Media, watches and jewelry, pharmaceuticals, distribution, retail, digital platforms and education
Claude Alain Roulet Noberasco
Member
Profile
ca.roulet@apiaswiss.ch
French-speaking Switzerland section
Languages: French, English
Specialties
- Family-owned SMEs-SMIs
- Strategy and Governance
- General management
- Change management, Restructuring, Turnarounds
- Business development
- Due diligence, M&A
- Sectors: Manufacturing, Construction, Watchmaking, Start-ups, Services
François Samson
Associate Member
Profile
French-speaking Switzerland section
Languages: French, English
Specialties
- Mentoring of entrepreneurs and leaders
- Certified Master Coach
- Management of organizations
- Sales and Marketing
- Sectors: Automotive, restaurant, finance (Forex), charity and association
Alan Tawil-Kummerman
Member
Profile
a-t.kummerman@apiaswiss.ch
French-speaking Switzerland section
Languages: French, English
Specialties
- Start-ups, technology
- General management
Philippe Vignon
Member
Profile
p.vignon@apiaswiss.ch
French-speaking Switzerland section
Languages : French, German (Swiss German), English, Italian
Specialties
- General Management
- Strategy and Governance
- Change management (certified coach)
- Digitization