In the first week of July, the finalists for the "CMO of the Year 2024" award were announced (m&k reported). Joséphine Chamoulaud, CEO of Smile and former CMO of the insurance company, is one of the nominees - and the first of the candidates we are presenting "in detail".

A steep ascent

Joséphine Chamoulaud's rapid rise at Smile is like a high-speed elevator ride - characterized by innovation and courage. Chamoulaud has been CEO of Smile since February 2024, after successfully positioning the company as a digital lifestyle brand as CMO. "The nomination means a lot to me," says Chamoulaud. "It is a special appreciation that I am still recognized for my marketing work as CEO." Her time as CMO was characterized by groundbreaking measures such as influencer marketing, initial activities in the metaverse and a new sound identity.

The significance of the "CMO of the Year" title

The "CMO of the Year" award underlines the central role of marketing in the Swiss economy. Marketing is becoming increasingly important due to digitalization, sustainability and meaningfulness. The "CMO of the Year" serves as a role model and inspires future professionals. Five outstanding candidates were nominated this year: Joséphine Chamoulaud from Smile, Jan De Schepper from Swissquote, Christian Gut from Stöckli Swiss Sports, Nathalie Noël from V-Zug and Saskia von Moos from intelligentfood Switzerland.

Innovation and customer focus

Chamoulaud emphasizes that innovation has always been part of Smile's DNA. Smile, as the first insurance company with a freemium business model, has introduced groundbreaking measures under her leadership. "Our biggest uplift was the internationalization of the brand and the associated doubling of our team," says Chamoulaud. Smile's digital business model enables a seamless customer experience and is based on the motto "no blah blah blah". This philosophy offers simple, fast and flexible solutions for customers and positions Smile as a digital lifestyle brand.

Sustainability as a corporate mission statement

Sustainability is a central element of Chamoulaud's work. Smile offers a wide range of sustainability services under the label "smile.green Engagements". "Sustainability must be thought of in a sustainable way - ecologically, socially and economically," explains Chamoulaud. Smile focuses on electronic customer communication, environmentally conscious driving and sustainable claims management. Supporting Viva con Agua drinking water projects and holding the first NFT auction in the insurance industry to promote these projects underlines this commitment.

The jury's conclusion

Joséphine Chamoulaud's impressive journey from CMO to CEO of Smile and her innovative approach to marketing is inspiring. With a clear focus on customer centricity, sustainability and innovation, she has successfully positioned Smile as a digital lifestyle brand. Who will win the title of "CMO of the Year" 2024 will be revealed at the exclusive award night in the Papiersaal - until then, it remains exciting to see who will prevail against the strong competition.

m&k: Maximilian Groth, could you briefly explain how Decentriq came to be founded?

Maximilian Groth: Five years ago, I founded Decentriq together with my business partner Stefan Deml. We now have 30 employees. The idea for this platform was born when we were both working in a company that analyzes and then monetizes cell phone data worldwide - this is done together with mobile phone providers. The question arose as to whether we could help enrich this data with data from third-party providers such as credit card providers. Combining data is very difficult for reasons of data protection and data security. And above all, you don't simply entrust your valuable data to another company.

So Decentriq was born out of this idea?

Exactly. We then had the idea of building a technological platform that would allow companies to work together more easily and in a compliant manner. As a company, we have a strong technological background and are categorized as a deep tech company. A few weeks ago, we won the ZKP Technopark Pioneer Prize, which has been awarded to one company every year since 2001. This prize is endowed with 100,000 Swiss francs. This is a great recognition for us. Our nickname among foreign companies is often "The Switzerland of Data".

Why are you called that?

We have created a neutral environment where you can collaborate on sensitive data in a secure and user-friendly way. A bit like Switzerland (laughs). What Switzerland is politically, we bring to the data economy. The Swissness factor is well received. We therefore say that we are really not a SaaS company in the sense of "software as a service", but a "SaaS Switzerland as a service". On a technological level, we embody what Switzerland promises politically: trust, value, neutrality and reliability.

Who uses the Decentriq platform?

We are generically positioned. We are used by a wide range of industries - the healthcare sector, banks, brand groups and sports data companies. In the healthcare sector in particular, large hospitals use our platform to make data available for research. We have already worked with the Ministry of Defense in the area of cybersecurity and with the city of Zurich in the area of public transport. We work with renowned companies in both the private and public sectors. Data protection and data security are our top priority, and we can guarantee this technologically.

What exactly is the platform like? How is data security guaranteed?

We have our background in cryptography. All data that is uploaded to our platform is encrypted beforehand - and it stays that way. The company can define how and by whom the data may be used. This is called "purpose bound data sharing". In this way, we can cryptographically ensure that the data is only used for a specific purpose. In short: data is valuable, and we exist to ensure that it cannot be accessed and used by just anyone. The company always controls the data and determines who can use it, how the data can be used and for how long. Data can now be used that previously could not be used, for example in the healthcare sector, for data protection reasons.

What is the technology behind it?

The technology we use is called "confidential computing". This is the same technology that Google will use in the future for its "Privacy Sandbox". Apple uses the same technology to ensure data security for its iPhone users.

How do media and media companies use this platform?

We offer solutions for the post-third party cookie era. Brands want to reach their target group in a compliant way. This is why we work with major media companies - not only in Switzerland, but also internationally. For example, RTL Ad Alliance in Germany is our client.

How exactly can you imagine this?

Let's take an example: Goldbach, with whom we have been working successfully for over a year, stores its first-party data in encrypted form on the platform, and brands do the same. A seed is then created, on the basis of which audiences are created and campaigns can be played out specifically to the target groups. This is also possible across multiple publishers. We work with many Swiss publishers. As a result, we have created something like a Swiss Garden.

They therefore offer these companies a way to keep the advertising money in the country.

Exactly. The advertising industry is a billion-dollar business, and so much simply flows out to the big foreign tech companies. Besides the American and Chinese platforms, most Swiss spend the most time on national platforms. So why shouldn't this behavior be used for advertising - even across national borders? Large agencies such as Publicis also rely on our platform. When I pitch to a European company, I start with the claim "A European solution for global demands".

What is the professional composition of Decentriq's 30 employees?

On a cultural level, it is clear to us and is also part of our values that we see data protection and data security as human rights. We are not open to discussion in this regard. Around 20 people are dedicated to engineering and product development, and around ten are involved in operations and commercial. We have major customers that we support, the platform regularly receives new features, is scaled and developed further, but at the same time we are driving marketing and sales forward.

How do you do marketing for a deep tech product like yours?

We learn every day. We are working on how to make the abstract tangible. The analogy to Switzerland has helped a lot - the neutrality, the security, the quality, you can remember that. I personally underestimated that for a long time. Customers need to have that in mind. I often start with the question of whether anyone knows what SaaS stands for. Everyone knows, but then I say "Switzerland as a Service". And then the ice is broken. But then it's still a long way to encryption technology,

How convincing is Decentriq in terms of content?

We have invested in technical documentation and legal clarifications from renowned international law firms - because clean use cases are important. And, of course, the companies we work with and that rely on our technology are also a good reference.

For example?

In the DACH region, these include Goldbach, Ikea, RTL Ad Alliance, Adverserve, the Swiss military and, in the healthcare sector, Aachen University Hospital. We also work with large banks. The award we won as a leading deep tech company in Switzerland is of course also a reference.

What drives you personally?

Working with our team from Switzerland to create a platform that organizations around the world can use collaboratively to work on data in a networked way and thereby create added value for society. Advertising, for example, is essential in the financing of quality journalism.

What is COMPLYANT?

COMPLYANT is a compliance software for Swiss legislation in the areas of environmental protection, plant safety and occupational health and safety and is suitable for companies of all sizes and industries.

The various Swiss legal requirements are structured thematically in questionnaires. This means that even non-lawyers such as quality experts, environmental officers, safety officers and facility managers can easily check compliance with the requirements.

Customer experiences from various industries show how COMPLYANT simplifies compliance and increases process efficiency.

 

 

How does COMPLYANT work?

A virtual assistant guides the user through thematically structured catalogs of questions. After checking the legal basis, the current situation is recorded. The necessary steps are derived from this and a task list is created.

The reporting shows the current status of legal compliance at all times. It serves as proof within the framework of the quality, environmental and safety management standards ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001. In addition, outstanding tasks can be displayed to provide an overview of the need for action.

If required, several locations can be evaluated separately. Thanks to the multi-client architecture, site managers can benefit from shared knowledge.

The software creates the basis for an optimal compliance management system. In contrast to other compliance management software, only the adapted requirements need to be checked in subsequent years. This minimizes the effort and the new proof of compliance is created with just a few clicks.

How do we support our customers?

In addition to the COMPLYANT software, IPSO ECO offers comprehensive services ranging from implementation and training to ongoing support. These services ensure that companies can exploit the full potential of the software.

	Developed and hosted in Switzerland
	Applicable for internal compliance guidelines or general location determination
	Aligned with the management systems according to ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018
	Has a positive impact on corporate governance and corporate reputation

Experience how COMPLYANT can revolutionize your compliance management. Visit our website for more information or contact us directly for a demo. Let COMPLYANT become the centerpiece of your compliance management.

 

 

Who is IPSO ECO?

IPSO ECO is an independent Swiss consultancy for environmental management and sustainability since 1987. We are the competent partner for all companies whose products or services have an impact on the environment.

We support you from the planning stage through construction to operation and dismantling, so that companies from a wide range of industries can meet all relevant ecological, business and environmental requirements and criteria.

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/complyant-die-zukunft-des-compliance-managements-effizient-umfassend-benutzerfreundlich/

Ottavia Masserini has experience as a media spokesperson and communications expert at Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), where she worked in corporate communications and public relations in the three major language regions from 2017 to 2021. For the past three years, she has been Chief of Staff of SBB's Real Estate department, where she was able to deepen her strategic, regulatory and procedural knowledge.

Ottavia Masserini will take over the communications and marketing department at Digitalswitzerland under the current CEO Stefan Metzger and will provide communications support to the designated CEO Franziska Barmettler, who will take up her post on November 1. The 36-year-old is looking forward to her new role: "Digitalization issues are occupying society, politics and the economy like never before. I am looking forward to supporting Switzerland's digital development in terms of communication with a professionally strong team".

CEO Stefan Metzger and President Andreas Meyer would like to thank the outgoing Head of Communications and Marketing, Thomas Weidmann, for his great commitment to Digitalswitzerland.

Yes, it's almost vacation time. And despite widespread flight shame, airports will once again be overcrowded. The queues, which are supposed to be controlled with barrier belts, will, as always, blur into uncontrolled masses of people and suitcases far beyond the designated rows, resembling an overeaten anaconda, sluggishly barely moving.

Queues at check-in, security or passport control are a nuisance. Fortunately, we no longer have to go to the airport for check-ins if we are still flying. We can do this conveniently online and via our cell phone. But not only that, we no longer even have to go on vacation for check-ins, we can do it every day or every week in our everyday working lives. The term has become so popular that we no longer even know where we originally wanted to go because of all the check-ins.

The use of the word check-in began after the pandemic. After employees around the world were supposed to return to their workplaces, employers were astonished to discover that this was not happening. The overpaid office spaces remained empty and the underpaid people continued to stay at home. The personal encounters, the informal conversations or the brief eye contact when passing by remained absent and complicated everyday working life enormously. They were all small check-ins with colleagues in the workplace, long before the term had made it from airports and hotels to the common office space.

Important for cooperation with and without luggage

The term "check-in" comes from the English language and is used in various contexts to describe the process of registering, booking or checking in a stranger to a travel group or accommodation. The term originally comes from the hotel and aviation industry, but has since spread to many other areas.

When checking in at a hotel, guests report to reception to register as arrivals, receive their room keys and complete the necessary formalities such as identity checks. When checking in at an airport, passengers register for their flight, check in any luggage and receive a boarding pass in return, which entitles them to change airside at the airport, i.e. to go to where the perfumes and spirits are cheaper and the planes are ready for departure. The boarding pass also entitles them to board such a plane and travel in a predetermined seat.

Check-ins also exist in the leisure sector for cruises and conferences, whereby the latter is a hybrid between leisure and business. Quite the opposite of the application in technology and software. Nothing is leisure there, even if the offices at Google imply otherwise. There, a check-in can describe the process by which developers enter their code into a central repository after they have made changes. Or in editorial offices, where the fun factor at work has also long since shrunk to a minimum. There, articles are checked in and out and raised to the next status so that the next worker, be it designers, proofreaders, picture editors or whoever, can do their work.

Check-ins are therefore omnipresent and have recently also become necessary in employee management when those who have stayed at home suddenly turn up at the office again and are irritated when HR managers and colleagues ask: "How are you?" In real life, or IRL for short, it's always easier to tell how a person is feeling. That's why there are free check-ins every day at the coffee machine, in the corridor, in front of the meeting rooms, in the canteen, in the toilet or while smoking. And usually without a queue, but with a lot of empathy. Such encounters are nice and sometimes almost feel like a little vacation.

* Benno Maggi is co-founder and CEO of Partner & Partner. He has been eavesdropping on the industry for over 30 years, discovering words and terms for us that can either be used for small talk, pomposity, excitement, playing Scrabble, or just because.

Under the moderation of young musical talent Cachita, the newly graduated students were honored for their outstanding achievements. Special recognition was given to the best of the year in the various parts of the examination and the overall examination.

Swiss Music Award winner Andryy provided the musical accompaniment, adding an emotional touch with his extraordinary voice.

A total of 301 marketing specialists and 214 sales specialists passed the federal examination to become a marketing or sales specialist. The failure rate for both specializations was around 30 percent.

Over the next few years, the municipality of Regensdorf will develop into one of the most modern municipalities in the canton of Zurich. In addition to major infrastructure projects, such as the north railroad station, over 2,000 apartments are planned or already under construction. In addition, businesses are moving in and extensive investments are being made in the quality of life within the municipality.

In order to do justice to all these changes in terms of communication and to convey the attractiveness of the municipality to the outside world in a targeted manner over the next few years, the Regensdorf brand was strategically realigned, developed and implemented in close cooperation with the Process agency.

As part of the realignment of the brand, the entire brand architecture within the municipality was sharpened, reorganized and prioritized in terms of communication. The old figurative mark was completely renewed and the entire corporate design was redesigned and redefined across all channels.

This included developing and implementing templates for all communication channels and media, including official documents and templates that are implemented and rolled out within the municipality.

"In times of change and major growth, in which Regensdorf finds itself, it is crucial that our communication is clear, uniform and consistent," says Sandrine Rickli, Head of Communications. "Our new image enables us to meet the communication requirements and convey our messages in an appealing and understandable way."

Responsible at Regensdorf: Sandrine Rickli (Project Lead, Communications Manager), Marco Renggli (Head of Innovation and Development), Fabienne Pfyl (Deputy Head of Innovation and Development), Stefan Pfyl (Municipal Clerk), Sanida Hasani (Executive Assistant Municipal Clerk). Responsible at Process:
Markus Hammer (overall responsibility), Martin Kessler (Martin Kessler Consulting) and Manuela Marty (strategy and consulting), Jasmina Seelig (consulting), Thomas Rütti (design), Pascal Hegemann (design), Timon Gschwind (motion design) Clau Isenring (text) and Wanda Honegger (digital design).

A breath of fresh air for Swiss Marketing: three new members and four existing members will be elected to head the professional and trade association at the 2024 Delegates' Assembly. Marco Ancora and Ubaldo Piccone were elected as members of the Board of Directors and Chris Pozzoli as the new President of the Board of Directors. Simon Albisser, Katharina Mäder, Dietger Löffler and Beat Schlumpf were re-elected.

The new elections will see a new management combination at the top of the association. Together, the newly constituted CC, the new CC President Chris Pozzoli and the new Managing Director Jan Maurer will drive forward the implementation of the association's new strategy.

The main aim over the next few years is to standardize the organization of the association and create a range of products and services that are tailored to the needs of the market. This also means increased cooperation with the various regions, with the ZV assuming an important bridging function.

Close cooperation between all stakeholders is therefore the central pillar of the association's long-term focus. The aim is to create a profitable ecosystem between clubs, schools, companies, sponsors and members in which synergies can be created and utilized. This is important so that Swiss Marketing can remain agile and provide its members with a relevant and attractive offering, explains Chris Pozzoli, the new President of Swiss Marketing.

Swiss Marketing's Board of Directors now consists of the following members: Simon Albisser (re-elected), Marco Ancora (new), Dietger Löffler (re-elected), Katharina Mäder (re-elected), Ubaldo Piccone (new) and Beat Schlumpf (re-elected). Chris Pozzoli (new) will act as President of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors will work closely with Jan Maurer, who heads up Swiss Marketing's operational activities as Managing Director.

The CISB aims to establish an interdisciplinary platform that promotes research into sustainability and innovation in companies and facilitates a pioneering dialog between academia and business. The CISB aims to bring about tangible change in business and society by turning visionary ideas into practical solutions.

Jung von Matt Brand Identity was involved in the foundation's development process from the very beginning. This ensured a close link between the foundation's design and identity.

The result is a clear, modern and fresh appearance that stands out in the Swiss foundation environment. The targeted reduction and the simple approach put the focus on the topics and the researchers. Relevant ideas and innovations are given a clear presence on the platform and can be constructively promoted.

"When creating the brand design, our aim was to create a visual identity that not only gives the foundation a distinctive face, but also provides a worthy stage for research," says Micha Niederhäuser, Brand Designer at Jung von Matt Brand Identity.

The characteristic lime-green yellow next to the neutral, reduced gray tones lends the appearance freshness and character. In addition, AI-generated images - which show abstract shapes in a white and neutral color scheme - underline the focus on innovation and modernity. "The use of AI-generated images made it possible to reflect and specifically develop the abstract idea of the visual world," says Loraine Olalia, Digital Designer at Jung von Matt Brand Identity.

Jung von Matt Brand Identity implemented the design concept consistently across various touchpoints. This ensures a uniform appearance, including on the website, which serves as a central point of contact and provides comprehensive information about the foundation and the initiatives it supports.

Responsible at CISB: Alexander Bischoff (Chairman of the Board of Trustees), Stefano Bianchi (Member of the Board of Trustees). Responsible at Jung von Matt Brand Identity: Nathalie Weiss (project management), Loraine Olalia (design), Micha Niederhäuser (design).

Just in time for its 20th anniversary, the non-profit association Crescenda from Basel has a new corporate identity. It was not intended to be a radical change, but rather a further development. And above all, the target groups should be able to recognize it quickly and clearly. This was the brief given to Feinheit, who developed the new look.

Reaching the goal with human-centered design

To meet the objectives, the agency combined its expertise in visual design with its experience in human-centered design and decided to work with people from the target groups. It quickly became clear that one target group was by far the most important: women with migration experience who attend business start-up courses or vocational training at Crescenda. In workshops with representatives of this target group, Feinheit was able to capture and convey the impact of Crescenda.

This showed that Crescenda focuses on a sense of belonging and cheerful togetherness. This is reflected in the new appearance, which is characterized by loud colors, playful fonts and authentic imagery.

Corporate design manual as a basis

The end product is a corporate design manual. Visually, it brings the identity to life with completely refreshed elements - such as the logo, typography, colors, imagery and layout principles. The text also gets to the heart of who Crescenda is. In particular, the logo byline "This is where women arrive. This is where women get ahead."

Among other things, the corporate design manual was the basis for the new website of Crescendawhich has recently gone online.

Responsible at Crescenda: Nicole Lützelschwab, Isabelle Groeli, Katharina Stöckli, Corinna Zuckermann, Nathalie Storer, Adelina Arendarska, Linh Lam, Beatrice Speiser. Responsible for fineness: Moritz Friess (project management & consulting), Catriona Paffhausen (visual design), Stephanie Auderset (text).

Stadtwerke Gossau offers a wide range of services and products that appeal to very different target groups. In order to create a progressive and customer-centric profile, Stadtwerke launched a new brand identity in summer 2024. Stadtwerke has thus made itself communicatively fit for the future in a changing market environment with increasing liberalization.

Really well supplied

The new brand identity of Stadtwerke Gossau, developed by Die Botschafter, is based on the three central service promises "securely supplied", "comprehensively supplied" and "simply supplied", which are united in the claim "Really well supplied".

The further development of the brand focuses on the customers and the services of Stadtwerke Gossau that suit them, which go far beyond the triumvirate of electricity, water and gas. The logo is the "common thread" of the visual identity and is designed to be highly recognizable in its variants and color scheme. The shape symbolizes dynamism, innovation and human emotion. The catchy claim "Really well supplied" is intended to summarize this value proposition succinctly.

Equipped for the energy future

The ambassadors sharpened the positioning for Stadtwerke Gossau and derived core messages and the claim from this. The agency also created the new website, refreshed the social media channels and the newsletter, designed a launch campaign and revised the existing brochures and flyers. In fall 2024, a new trade fair presence and communication tools to support consulting will follow.

Responsible at Stadtwerke Gossau: Rafael Mittelholzer (Head of Market and Energy), Daniela Schwitter-Meister (Head of Marketing). Responsible at Die Botschafter Kommunikationsagentur: Axel Thoma (strategy and concept), Carmen Fraefel (project management), Tammy Kissling (design), Jessica Obrist (digital).

Restricted freedom

Aspects of libertarian authoritarianism.

• Authors:inside: Oliver Nachtwey and Carolin Amlinger
• Publisher: Suhrkamp Verlag, 2022
• Pages: 480
• ISBN: 9783518430712

Rainbow flags waving next to Reichstag flags; anti-authoritarian-minded educated citizens demonstrating with a Jewish star on their chest against a supposed dictatorship of opinion or defaming the wearing of a mask as the "new Hitler salute": You can dismiss this as absurd theater. Or you can analyze why people from the progressive center drift into authoritarian, conspiracy-theoretical thought patterns. Carolin Amlinger and Oliver Nachtwey expose the concept of freedom in current protest movements without presenting their protagonists as freaks. Definitely worth reading.

Does it also come in green?

See through industry tricks, buy sustainably.

• Authors: Kerstin Scheidecker and Katja Tölle
• Publisher: Campus Verlag, 2024
• Pages: 256
• ISBN: 9783593518374

"Climate-neutral", "regional", "natural cosmetics" - what is supposed to make us feel good when shopping is often not much more than hot air. The authors know this better than most. At Öko-Test, they have been scrutinizing the industry for years and have compiled their concentrated knowledge in this book. With meticulous research, they explain clearly and thoroughly what the problem is with the tomatoes on our ready-made pizza and the pictures of happy cows on the milk carton. Terrifying, but extremely worth reading.

Let the fear go

Break the cycle of worry and live free of fear.

• Author: Pia Callesen
• Publisher: Beltz Publishing Group, 2021
• Pages: 286
• ISBN: 9783407866202

Anxiety disorders are usually treated with cognitive behavioral therapy. This involves those affected analyzing their worries and fears with psychotherapeutic support and thinking about their causes. This is the wrong approach, says Pia Callesen. In her opinion, excessive thinking and analysis creates or reinforces the anxiety disorder. She recommends passively observing your own fears and simply letting them pass by. In her book, which is rich in exercises and examples from her own practice, she offers an alternative view of anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders.

Speak Up and Shine

Vocal empowerment for more presence and assertiveness.

• Author: Monika Hein
• Publisher: Campus Verlag, 2024
• Pages: 256
• ISBN: 9783593518497

At work, women tend to play down, speak quietly or keep their mouths shut more than men. This is partly due to traditional role models, says Monika Hein. Speech training is therefore not enough: if you want to speak louder, you first have to learn to set boundaries, endure conflicts and stand up for yourself. In addition to psychological advice, the coach also has more specific tips for intonation, expression and pronunciation. Anyone who wants to improve their own presentations or speeches in meetings will be well served by this guide.