The traditional Zurich Logistics Colloquium is celebrating its 40th edition: on May 8, 2025, three leading personalities will present the creative solutions and skilful use of individual potential that have led their companies to new successes. Participants will benefit from innovative impulses and pioneering ideas from these lighthouse projects.

This year, the experts will be speaking under the motto "Added value through logistics". The topics in detail:

The presentations will provide new food for thought, potential and ideas. The subsequent aperitif riche will provide an opportunity for a lively exchange with the speakers, other experts and guests.

More information: www.acel.ch

The most important in a nutshell

Date: Thursday, May 8, 2025, 5:15 p.m.

Location: Lecturers' Foyer of ETH Zurich, Rämistrasse 101, 8092 Zurich

Participation: CHF 120.-

Your registration - quick, easy and convenient via QR code, at www.acel.ch/aktuelles/veranstaltungen/ or by e-mail to info@acel.ch

Registration deadline: Thursday, May 1, 2025

The number of participants is limited.

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/leuchtturmprojekte-mehrwert-durch-logistik/

Like already in the previous year Twint leads the reputation ranking of Swiss companies. The company is particularly highly regarded in French-speaking Switzerland and among women and young people under the age of 30. "Twint is seen as an absolute top company that offers better services than other companies in the sector and stands out positively," explains Anja Reimer from NIQ GfK. "No other company enjoys such strong identification among the Swiss population."

Twint CMO Jens Plath is delighted with the result: "The trust of our more than five million users is of central importance to us. We are particularly pleased to be recognized together with other Swiss Love Brands."

Changes in the ranking

Zweifel remains in second place, scoring particularly highly in German-speaking Switzerland and among younger consumers. Ricola rises to third place, pushing Migros down to fourth place. Lindt & Sprüngli moves up four places to fifth place, followed by Coop, which climbs two places and - like Zweifel - is particularly popular with young consumers.

Digitec Galaxus makes it into the top 10 for the first time after the company is now one of the 50 most important Swiss companies due to increased awareness. The cantonal banks moved up five places to eighth place, while SBB dropped four places to ninth - although it received the best rating in terms of environmental sustainability. Geberit remains unchanged in tenth place.

Demographic differences in the ranking

The results show clear regional and demographic differences. In French-speaking Switzerland, Migros is in second place, followed by Lindt & Sprüngli. Rolex, Nespresso and Logitech are among the ten most valued companies here.

Among women, Migros is just ahead of Ricola in third place, while Landi is also in the top 10. The men rate Ricola best, followed by Zweifel and Migros. Mobiliar and Logitech are among the most highly rated companies.

In terms of age, Twint clearly leads the ranking for young people under 30, followed by Zweifel, Coop and Migros. Ricola, Zweifel and Lindt & Sprüngli occupy the top three places among the over-50s.

Rega dominates the NPO ranking for the eighth time in a row

Swiss Air-Rescue Rega remains the undisputed leader among non-profit organizations. "This award is thanks to our employees, who give their all around the clock to help people in distress," says Rega CEO Ernst Kohler.

The Swiss Paraplegic Foundation and the Swiss Red Cross follow in second and third place. They are followed by Médecins Sans Frontières, Spitex Switzerland, Fairtrade Max Havelaar and WWF Switzerland, which moved up three positions. The Cancer League, Swiss Mountain Aid and Bio Suisse complete the top 10.

The NIQ GfK Business Reflector measures the reputation of the 50 leading Swiss companies and 20 best-known non-profit organizations. The representative survey is based on 3,800 interviews conducted between mid-January and mid-February 2025. The aim of the study is to provide precise reputation monitoring for companies and NPOs.

The digital economy is undergoing a process of transformation - characterized by artificial intelligence, geopolitical uncertainties and changing market conditions. With this year's guiding theme, Dmexco 2025 aims to encourage companies to invest in innovation and actively shape the future. The trade fair will take place in Cologne on September 17 and 18, 2025.

"Be Bold. Move Forward. is more than a motto. It's an attitude and a challenge," says Verena Gründel, Brand & Communications Director at Dmexco. "Studies show that companies that invest decisively and drive innovation during economic downturns grow faster than their competitors in the long term." Dmexco wants to bring these movers and shakers together to set trends and develop forward-looking solutions, Gründel continues.

The German Digital Industry Association (BVDW), the conceptual sponsor of the trade fair, also emphasizes the importance of a willingness to take risks: "New technologies offer groundbreaking opportunities. The digital economy has always been an industry of creators and bridge builders," says President Dirk Freytag.

First speakers and exhibitors confirmed

In Cologne, the trade audience can look forward to presentations by international experts, including Carsten Maschmeyer (Maschmeyer Group), Jean-Remy von Matt (Jung von Matt), Vanessa Stützle (Luqom), Alma Lipa (L'Oréal DACH), Sir Martin Sorrell (S4 Capital), Rezo (Nindo) and Dora Osinde (Ogilvy Group Germany).

Numerous companies have also already confirmed their participation. These include Shopware, Otto Advertising, Disney, Criteo, HubSpot, Douglas Marketing Solutions, United Internet Media, Media Impact and IQ Digital.

Expansion into Asia

Dmexco will also be present on the Asian market for the first time this year. On October 8 and 9, 2025, the eCommerce Expo | Dmexco Asia will celebrate its premiere in Singapore and aims to provide new impetus for the digital economy in the Southeast Asian region.

The HWZ exclusively offers part-time degree programs in the field of business. In order to sharpen its positioning, the Zurich agency June is supporting the HWZ as a sparring partner in strategic communication. In addition to media work, media screening, monitoring of relevant topics and content planning, the university management, department heads and other experts will be positioned in the coming months.

Focus on expert:inside positioning and visibility

A particular focus is on the positioning of the new Rector Prof. Dr. Brian P. Rüeger, who has headed the HWZ since October 2024. June accompanies the targeted positioning of his vision for the university and the associated further development of the HWZ.

"June has a deep understanding of strategic corporate communications. You know how to identify relevant topics and position the university management and our other experts in a targeted manner in order to strengthen the HWZ as a leading business school in the long term," Laura Oderbolz, Head of Communications at HWZ, is convinced.

m&k: Philipp Skrabal, congratulations on your Title "Advertiser of the Year" 2025. How did you experience the award night and the handover of the baton?

Philipp Skrabal: Thank you very much, it was a great evening! Last year I very happy for Andrea Bison. What she does with Alex, Gordon and the rest of the team [from Thjnk Zurich, editor's note]. deserves the utmost respect and is good for the entire industry. Even the supposed competition. Because at the end of the day, it's about proving with as many campaigns as possible that intelligent strategy and creative excellence make the difference. I am doubly honored to have taken over the "Egon" from her. I didn't know it would be me until her laudation and was therefore quite relaxed until shortly beforehand. Then my nervousness increased with every sentence.

Do you find the term "advertiser" of the year at all appropriate for yourself?

Even though I use my creative skills not only in advertising, but also in all other areas of communication, I can live with the term very well. Advertising is culture and zeitgeist and has also inspired art - we should be proud.

Team Farner has continuously worked its way up the creative rankings in recent years. From 10th place in 2020 to 1st place in 2024.

That was hard work and a bit of luck, because it is important for us to shine with relevant and paid work and not work specifically for the "shop window". With campaigns such as "Islam Alijaj in the National Council", various campaigns for SBB, Arosa Tourism and our film for Greenpeace, we have succeeded in producing several works that have also won international awards. Added to this is Yoveo's extensive AI expertise, which creates exciting new creative spaces for us.

You now have a "double pole position". How do you intend to use the momentum?

For me, these are two things: First place in the creative ranking hopefully makes it clear to everyone and every CMO that it is worth looking at Team Farner. Our expertise is unique in the Swiss market and our joint success with our clients is demonstrable. On the other hand, I don't see the title "Advertiser of the Year" as an opportunity for self-promotion. I truly believe that our industry and our creative product deserve more respect. That's why I want to stand up for the industry, especially for all those who focus on quality.

The advertising industry needs more self-confidence - you have already emphasized this several times. What's wrong with it and how can this be changed?

The fact is, and there are now a number of studies on this from various consulting firms, creativity makes companies more successful. So if creativity makes us more effective, why should it always cost less? The existential pressure, also caused by Big Tech, is driving us in the wrong direction. It's a trap, because in the medium and long term, it's not the tools that make the difference, but what you create for the brand in the long term. What's more, communication has never had more influence than it does today. Take post-factual politics, for example, in which emotions and narratives are more important than objective facts. As a society, we are therefore called upon to pay more attention to the topic of communication.

In what direction has the advertising, marketing and communications industry changed since you embarked on this path?

In the past, there was marketing communication and corporate communication. The former occupied paid space, the latter took place in the editorial section of the media. Even if these silos still exist, they no longer correspond to the reality we experience today, as both share the same channels and profiles and are hardly differentiated in people's perception. To be successful in the long term, companies and brands need a consistent language, they need an attitude, a personality, a soul. It makes no difference whether it is the company or the product that speaks. In addition, successful brand management is becoming more demanding, not easier, due to the increasing automation of communication.

Ban advertising from the cityscape that Debate is currently raging in politics. What is your view on this?

I find that simply absurd. As I just mentioned, advertising is part of our culture and a central pillar of our economy. It is one of the values of our democracy that we trust ourselves to form our own opinions. This also requires advertising. In addition, outdoor advertising creates publicity, which is important for initiating social discussions.

They are strongly committed to young talent. At the same time, the industry - like others - is struggling with many challenges. One indication of this is the current job market. Is the industry still attractive enough for young talent or does it need a rethink?

The industry needs to evolve, it needs to learn and understand how to deal with all the changes and where the opportunities lie. This requires ideas and courageous decisions. The old stability and predictability is unlikely to return, so we need to become more agile - without losing our profile. Communication is and remains attractive for young talent and creativity is a multiplier for effective communication.

Which campaigns from your career have burned themselves into your brain and heart? What are you particularly proud of?

Our road safety campaign spontaneously comes to mind. "Made Visible" come to mind. Instead of following the original message "Dress brightly so as not to be overlooked." we founded the streetwear label "Made Visible". The campaign has been measurably successful for seven years, we cooperate with over 40 fashion and lifestyle brands and the textile industry, have created our own fashion collection, employ a number of influencers and continuously produce our own branded content formats. Together with the TCS, we have created the most successful prevention campaign in Switzerland, which was even awarded the "Road Safety Innovation Award" by the FIA. However, the Mobiliar campaign, in particular the "Liebe Mobiliar" film with Didier Cuche, or more precisely the viral for it, has burned itself into my heart the most.

The recipe was perfect: Didier as a celebrity, his legendary ski flip as the cause of the damage and the historic duel between Switzerland and Austria in alpine skiing. Within a week, we had a million organic views and media coverage in Blick, SRF and also in numerous Austrian tabloid newspapers and on ORF. Only then did we launch the actual TV commercial. To date, the film has over 20 million views and hundreds of thousands of likes and comments - also thanks to TikTok and Instagram. The shoot in Sölden with Didier Cuche, director Tobi Fueter and cameraman Filip Zumbrunn is unforgettable.

Hand on heart: What was your biggest creative mistake - and what did you learn from it?

An event on Waisenhausplatz in Bern comes to mind. We organized it as part of a campaign for a diverse Switzerland. Cool acts, but unfortunately little budget for the actual campaign and therefore few guests on site. A likeable older woman who danced passionately and experimentally and a horde of alcoholized teenagers dominated the scene. Thanks to my photography lessons during my training, I did manage to take a few photos of what looked like a decent crowd - enough for the media release. What I learned from this: Even a good cause needs money.

The unanimous confirmation of Michael Burkard and Etienne Coquoz as the new co-heads marks the start of a new chapter for Impressum. The two former Central Secretaries succeed Urs Thalmann, who has led the association for two decades. The co-presidents of Impressum, Caroline Gebhard and Fabienne Sennhauser, paid tribute to Thalmann's commitment and expressed their delight that with Burkard and Coquoz, a bilingual management team is taking over the reins.

Challenges for journalism

The current situation in the Swiss media industry was a key topic at the delegates' meeting. Gebhard referred to the numerous waves of redundancies in the past year - Ringier, ESH Medias, SRG, Le Temps, La Liberté, Tamedia, EMH and CH Media were among those affected. "Impressum stood by its members and the affected employees during each of these redundancies," she emphasized. Individual legal advice is also in high demand: around 220 members made use of the association's legal services in 2024.

The Central Secretariat also campaigned for the harmonization of the press card, measures against SLAPP lawsuits (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) and for the preservation of the CCT RRR.

In the black for the first time in years

After several years of negative financial statements, Impressum was able to present a balanced budget for 2025. This was made possible by various "difficult decisions", as they say. Cost-cutting measures were taken, such as reducing contributions to organizations such as the Swiss Press Council, Edito and Maz, as well as not filling vacant positions.

According to Fabienne Sennhauser, however, simply making savings is not enough: "We are also working on improving our funding model, for example by simplifying the admission process for BR members. We are also investing in communication and member recruitment." An initial success: a foundation is supporting Impressum's legal service in the fight against SLAPPs.

Court ruling against Impressum in dispute with SRG

Impressum has been fighting for inclusion as a social partner in the SRG collective labor agreement (CLA) since 2019 - now the court has rejected the association. The reasons are still pending, but the decision sparked a controversial discussion at the meeting, not least because of the high costs of the proceedings. The delegates discussed ways to mobilize the SRG members of Impressum more strongly in order to achieve better cooperation with the existing social partners.

AI statement and debate on local journalism

The delegates overwhelmingly supported a joint declaration on the use of generative AI, which is being drawn up by various organizations associated with the Swiss Press Council.

Finally, the editors-in-chief Reto Stifel (Engadiner Post/Posta Ladina) and Tommaso Manzin (Appenzeller Volksfreund) discussed the future of local journalism with the delegates. Stifel emphasized that "there is no such thing as fake news in local journalism. They are corrected immediately by the readers". Manzin added that "regional anchoring requires a certain form of courage and ethics", because you meet the people you have written about on the street. Despite declining sales figures, print remains central to local newspapers. "Letters to the editor still sometimes play the role of social networks in our regions," says Manzin.

The study conducted by Prof. Dr. Claudia Bünte from the SRH Berlin University of Applied Sciences shows a clear trend: 73 % of marketing managers from the DACH region use AI, but only a fraction exploit the full potential. While some market leaders achieve competitive advantages through the targeted use of AI, around 20 % of the potential effects remain unused in many companies. In the fifth wave of the long-term study, marketing managers were asked about the current and future significance and use of AI in marketing as well as the impact of AI on company success and team composition in marketing.

Lack of know-how

The biggest challenge is the lack of training. 60 % of respondents state that there is a lack of training, while 58 % feel overwhelmed by the multitude of AI tools. There is also a noticeable knowledge gap at management level: managers are 21 % less proficient in AI tools than their teams and have less of an overview of the tool landscape - which is slowing down the potential transformation. 79 % of companies confirm that their marketing departments are not sufficiently trained for the use of AI.

AI as a success factor - but only with know-how

The study also shows that companies that use AI systematically are often more successful. More than two thirds of those surveyed see AI as a decisive success factor. According to the respondents, AI will also determine the future of companies.

"But without targeted further training and strategic integration, the potential remains limited," says study director Prof. Dr. Claudia Bünte. "Companies need to invest in AI knowledge now in order to remain competitive in the long term."

The study is based on a survey of 208 marketing managers from the DACH region and is the longest continuous study on the use of AI in marketing in the German-speaking world.

Philipp Skrabal beat fellow nominees Gordon Nemitz, Chief Strategy Officer at Thjnk Zurich, and Lorenz Clormann, Executive Creative Director at Wirz, in the race for the title of "Advertiser of the Year" 2025. This is his fourth nomination for the most prestigious personal award in the Swiss communications industry. Andrea Bison, founder and co-CEO of Thjnk Zurich and "Advertiser of the Year" 2024, presented Skrabal with the "Egon" at the award night on Thursday evening at the Razzia restaurant in Zurich.

In her laudatory speech, Bison emphasized that the title "Advertiser:in of the Year" is more than just an award - it is also a promise. "To creativity, to the courage to break new ground and to the responsibility we all bear when we tell the stories that shape our world," said the "Advertiser of the Year" 2024 to the more than 100 invited guests on stage at the Razzia. "Philipp Skrabal has proven over the years that creativity is not a question of budget, but of attitude," continued Bison. "Good advertising doesn't just sell, it also has something to say."

Skrabal started his career as a graffiti artist. After working for agencies such as Publicis, Advico Young & Rubicam and Wirz, he has been shaping the creative direction of Farner for over a decade. As Chief Creative Officer, he has shaped Farner into one of the most creative communications agencies in Switzerland, which recently won the Swiss Creative Ranking 2024.

His creative signature has shaped numerous campaigns for companies such as SBB, Arosa Tourism, Greenpeace and National Councillor Islam Alijaj. Winner of several awards - including two Cannes Lions - his work has also sparked debates and set new standards. Philipp Skrabal is also strongly committed to promoting young talent in the industry: he is Vice President of the Art Directors Club Switzerland, a member of the Ad School Board and a member of ADC Europe and the Creative Club Austria CCA.

Read the interview on Philipp Skrabal's nomination here.

"The young creative scene has once again proven its potential," says Maximilian Börke, Head of Marketing at Ringier Media Switzerland. "The judging of the ADC Switzerland Young Creatives Award 2025 was a real highlight full of fresh ideas and bold concepts. With their creative concepts, the young talents showed how a news brand can be part of the lives of a young generation in a new, captivating way and impressively demonstrated that the media consumption of the future will be shaped by innovation."

The works were judged last week by representatives of the View and the other sponsors of the young talent competition - APG|SGA Out of Home Media, Cash, Swissfilm Association and Keystone SDA - as well as ADC members. m&k-Editor Beat Hürlimann was also on site to catch votes (Markt-kom.com reported).

In addition to the coveted Young Creatives Awards, the winners can look forward to a membership in the "Young ADC" and are thus part of ADC Switzerland. The Young Members will also receive a "ticket" to join the jury at the next ADC judging and thus decide on the shortlist and bronze awards on the first jury day. Through a cooperation with Weischer.Cinema Switzerland, the winning teams will also represent Switzerland at the Young Lions Competition in Cannes in June. To toast their win, all winning teams are also invited to the "Advertiser of the Year" award night on Thursday evening, where they can network with leading industry figures.

The award ceremony was once again hosted by SRF 3 presenter Céline Werdelis, who also welcomed the Media team, which was chosen in a separate selection process by Weischer.Cinema, to the stage for the first time. Like the Young Creatives winning teams, the Media team will also take part in the Cannes Young Lions Competition.

The winners of the ADC Young Creatives Award 2025

• Film category: "Everything in view" by Francesca Kleinstück & Emil Maeder

• Outdoor category: "Clickbaiting With Comments" by Alex Gubler & Jenna Davis

• Cyber categoryThe Blicket" by Josephine Jeanguenin & Patricia Schneider

• Category Media (powered by Weischer.Cinema Switzerland)Sara Schild & Delia Montagnolo

The ADC Young Creatives Award is organized by ADC Switzerland with the support of main sponsor View as well as APG|SGA Out of Home Media, Cash, Swissfilm Association, Keystone SDA, Swiss International Air Lines and the event partner LSA Leading Swiss Agencies. Weischer.Cinema Switzerland is also taking part as the official Swiss Cannes Lions representative and ADC cooperation partner. Media partners are m&k and personally.

Myriam Käser has headed the Group Communications & Corporate Responsibility (GCR) department as a member of the Group Executive Board since June 2024. Together with her team, she has defined new priorities in a comprehensive strategy process. This has resulted in an "organizational development of the department", as detailed in a press release. Among other things, this includes greater integration of corporate communications and a targeted focus on AI and digital transformation.

Andrea Meier is taking over as the new Head of Corporate Communications. The newsdesk, media service and film team will be merged with the Corporate Communications department. Meier was previously responsible for Partnerships & Live Experience at Swisscom and has extensive experience in the communications industry. She will be succeeded by her previous deputy, Julia Werner.

With the new "Comm Tech & Transformation" department, Swisscom is also focusing more on digital communication and AI-supported processes. Michèle Westhues Estermann, who has already worked intensively on the use of AI in corporate communications in her previous role, will take over as head of the department.

"I am convinced that the new set-up will enable us to make even better use of our digital potential, exploit the opportunities offered by AI and manage communication and stakeholder management in a more strategic and agile way overall," says Myriam Käser about the realignment.

The SWA's anniversary annual meeting focused on the trends and challenges of tomorrow's marketing. In his welcoming speech, SWA President Roger Harlacher emphasized right at the beginning how much has happened in the field of AI since last year: "The development is gigantic - AI has definitely taken its place. What we need now is a deep dive into the new technologies and the marketing of the future."

According to Harlacher, speed is the biggest challenge here, but reflection is also required. Because in a world in which more and more is possible faster and faster, values and reliability are becoming more important for brands, and orientation and trust are gaining in significance. Hence his appeal to the audience: "Let's be inspired by the new possibilities and technological trends for brands, but let's also take enough time for reflection".

Strong SWA in its anniversary year

The SWA was founded in 1950 and is now celebrating its 75th anniversary. Roger Harlacher was particularly pleased that the SWA is still a strong voice in the Swiss advertising market at the age of 75 - even stronger than ever before. After a successful year for the association with numerous activities such as webinars, expert group meetings and various initiatives, the SWA was able to announce a new record number of 215 active member companies.

There were five departures from the Board of Directors and four new Board members were elected. This means that the 11-member Board of Directors from various sectors is once again complete.

There was a surprising change in the Executive Committee. Roger Harlacher announced that he had decided to step down as President. After 16 successful years, he felt the time was right for a successor. He brought Jan De Schepper, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer of Swissquote, onto the stage right away (Markt-kom.com reported). Jan De Schepper expressed his thanks for the introduction and is looking forward to the exciting topics and challenges in the association. On behalf of the Board of Directors, he also announced that Roger Harlacher had been appointed Honorary President for his services.

SWA Director Roland Ehrler also took the opportunity to bid Roger Harlacher a fitting farewell. As a special farewell gift, he received a painting specially created for the occasion by his son, freelance artist Luca Harlacher. After the emotional farewell to Roger Harlacher, Johannes Hapig welcomed the guests as host and led them through the evening with wit and charm.

Kemp-Robertson and Polomski: What the future holds

The first keynote speaker was Paul Kemp-Robertson, Chief Content Officer at Lions, who presented the eager audience with "44 Ways to Win in 2029". At the same time, he emphasized that there is not just one path that leads to success, but many paths. In addition to some predictable inputs such as "Understand your emerging buyers" or "Win the internet every day", Kemp-Robertson also presented some surprising tips that brands can use to stand out in the age of AI: "Focus on what will not change" and "Over-index on trust".

Kemp-Robertson also emphasized the importance of creativity and vision. His advice to the audience: "Be a visionary, not a creator". And to management he recommends: "Don't kill creativity in the name of efficiency". Because he is certain that something will still be true in 2029: "It is creativity that makes brands famous". Not entirely unironically, he concluded by telling the guests: "Ignore predicitons about the future." Because we all have it in our own hands how we face the future.

The second keynote speaker Jens Polomski, LinkedIn Top Voice for AI and co-founder of SnipKI from Cologne, was on the SWA stage for the second time in a row. He reminded the audience that AI is more than just a text generator and showed impressive examples of what AI can achieve not only in the audiovisual sector, but also in medicine and materials research.

Polomski emphasized the possibilities that AI offers us to implement ideas quickly and cheaply. Even without programming skills, we can build and integrate tools ourselves. And at a speed that is almost unbelievable. Polomski needed just over eight minutes to create his own image generator with AI. He concluded by advising the guests: "There are no more excuses for not implementing ideas", and looking to the future, he is certain that "there is still a lot to come".

Panel discussion and aperitif riche

After the two presentations, Johannes Hapig hosted the "Next Gen Marketing Podium". Jens Polomski was joined on the panel by "Advertiser of the Year" Andrea Bison (Thjnk), Yaël Meier (Zeam) and Jan De Schepper (Swissqoute).

At the end, SWA Director Roland Ehrler thanked the audience for their patience and quickly moved on to the celebratory stand-up dinner. The mix of guests from customers, agencies and marketers as well as the 75th anniversary provided plenty to talk about for a long time.

The next SWA Annual Meeting will take place on March 19, 2026 at StageOne in Zurich.

The SWA annual meeting took place on Tuesday in Zurich-Oerlikon with over 400 members and guests from the advertising industry. The association also celebrated its 75th anniversary. On the topic of "Next Gen Marketing", the two keynote speakers Paul Kemp-Robertson, Chief Content Officer at Lions from London and Jens Polomski, LinkedIn Top Voice for AI & Co-Founder snipKI from Cologne, gave an insight into how they see the future of marketing and communication.

Last year, the long-standing SWA President, Roger Harlacher, announced to the Board that he would be stepping down at today's 76th General Assembly. Harlacher was elected to the Board in 2006 and became President of the Association in 2009. During his time in office, the SWA has developed into a strong lobby group and a valuable partner in the advertising market, according to the association. Roger Harlacher was made Honorary President at the AGM in recognition of his services.

Jan De Schepper, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer of Swissquote Bank, will take over as Chairman. De Schepper has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2018. He began his career in branding at Feldschlösschen and continued it at Bacardi-Martini, Saatchi & Saatchi and McDonald's. In 2015, he moved to Swissquote to head the marketing department. In 2019, he was promoted to CSMO and became a member of Swissquote's Executive Board. De Schepper is also a member of the Board of Directors of Neobank Yuh and holds an MBA in International Management from the University of Geneva.