Joining forces for creativity

When two of the most influential voices in the communications and tech industry discuss the future of creativity and marketing at the Cannes Lions Festival, the industry listens. Arthur Sadoun, CEO of Publicis Groupe, and Shantanu Narayen, CEO of Adobe, took to the stage together - and what was billed as a high-level talk turned into a lesson in leadership, optimism and strategic craft.

Even the setting made a statement: Narayen was honored as the first "Creative Champion of the Year" - a new award that recognizes those individuals who have made a lasting commitment to the needs of creatives. For Sadoun, Narayen is "the only tech CEO who has understood that creativity is not replaced by technology, but enhanced by it". Other tech companies, Sadoun said smugly, wanted to "eat up" the cages of creatives.

The creative core remains - even in AI times

Sadoun recalled his early visits to Cannes 30 years ago, when he spent hours watching films. Today, in the midst of a fragmented media landscape, it is more important than ever to develop creative ideas that prevail - across channels, emotionally, relevant. "If we forget that it's about the big idea, we become irrelevant," says Sadoun.

Narayen agreed: every technological breakthrough - from PostScript to mobile and cloud - has made creativity more accessible. The current AI push is nothing other than the next stage of this democratization. Adobe is specifically focusing on conversational interfaces that help creatives overcome the fear of the blank page - without marginalizing creative output. "It's not about automating creativity, it's about unleashing it."

Craftsmanship instead of hype

Both CEOs emphasized: Solid tools and strategic clarity are needed. Narayen presented Adobe's AI model architecture in four layers - data, models, agents and interfaces - and emphasized that Adobe only uses IP-secured data. This protects the rights of creatives and ensures trust.

Sadoun gave a concrete insight into everyday life at Publicis: AI is used to empower talent - for example, to enable a young creative director in Shanghai to work on the Super Bowl. People remain the center of attention. "Our industry has the potential to combine technology, data, media and ideas in a unique way - that is our superpower."

Orientation in the platform jungle

Key keywords of the talk: personalization and differentiation. Narayen emphasized that Adobe covers the entire customer journey - from acquisition to customer retention. It is clear that the data belongs to the customer, not Adobe. Sadoun, on the other hand, warned of the limitations of closed platforms - the so-called "walled gardens". Without open architectures, marketing would lose its power for brand management. According to Sadoun, the future lies in an interplay of platform, service and creative excellence.

An appeal for courage, emotion and young leadership

In a personal digression, Sadoun acknowledged the youth: "We have to let them take the lead - new ideas need space." Narayen added that creativity needs to be linked to business objectives more than ever before, for example by changing the language used in companies.

What creatives need now - Sadoun's appeal to the industry

Despite all the love of technology and digital promises, one thing remains clear for Sadoun: "In the end, it's the big idea that counts." And this is precisely where his appeal to creative professionals comes in. Anyone who wants to survive in the age of AI, platform economy and attention competition must have the courage to stand up for strong concepts again - cross-channel, well thought-out, with impact.

Sadoun's top tips for creative excellence in complex times:

1. Don't get bogged down in individual measures. Good ideas are not one-touch wonders, but must be able to unfold through entire media ecosystems.

2. Uses technology as a lever, not as a substitute. AI can help to give more people access to good ideas - but it should never be the source of the idea.

3. Remains uncomfortable. Sadoun warns against creative complacency and cautions: "If we become lazy and forget that everything starts with a resounding idea, we will go under."

4. Works like platform architects. More than ever, creatives need to understand how content works across platforms - not only in terms of design, but also strategically.

5. Get out of your comfort zone. Sadoun emphasizes that creativity often arises where there is a crunch - not in the algorithm, but in the real, emotional moment.

Shantanu Narayen also addresses creative professionals with an impulse: "Democratization does not mean arbitrariness." Especially in the age of conversational interfaces, it is important to preserve your own signature. AI is a stepping stone - not a destination.

Sadoun posed the most important question at the end: "How do we manage to carry the energy of this festival into everyday life on Monday?" A question that acts as a mirror towards the industry - and whose answer perhaps lies in the attitude of both CEOs: Creativity is not a nostalgic ideal, but a living muscle that needs to be exercised - with technology, but never without heart.

About Arthur Sadoun
Chairman & CEO, Publicis Groupe. The Frenchman started out as an entrepreneur in Chile before joining TBWA in 1999. After holding positions at Publicis Conseil and Publicis Worldwide, he became CEO of the Groupe in 2017. Under his leadership, Publicis became the leading global player for business transformation. In 2022, he made his cancer public and launched the "Working with Cancer" initiative.

About Shantanu Narayen
Chair & CEO, Adobe. Narayen led Adobe through its transformation from a software provider to an experience platform. Under his aegis, cloud and AI were strategically anchored. Narayen was named the first "Creative Champion of the Year" in 2025 for his contribution to the democratization of creative tools and the connection between art and technology.

The 22 UVG insurers in Switzerland registered around 915,000 accidents and occupational illnesses in 2024. This corresponds to a slight increase compared to the previous year (+0.7%). The 2.0% decline in occupational accidents and illnesses to 280,000 cases is more than compensated for by the 1.7% increase in leisure accidents to 618,000. These UVG statistics do not include accidents involving children, schoolchildren, students, housewives and househusbands, the self-employed and pensioners. Essentially, therefore, it covers employees and apprentices aged between 15 and 65 who are permanently resident in Switzerland. These people make up a good half of the resident population.

Differences between the insurers

A differentiated picture emerges between the accident insurers: at Suva, the number of occupational accidents and occupational illnesses fell by 3.6%, while the number of leisure accidents increased by 2.1%. In contrast, the other private insurers, which are mainly active in the service sector, saw a slight increase of 0.8% in occupational accidents, while the increase in leisure accidents was 1.4%. These differences reflect the different insured structures and activity profiles in the respective insured collectives.

The current costs for 2024 are not yet fully known. In the previous year, insurance benefits amounted to around CHF 5.5 billion, mainly for medical costs (medical and therapeutic benefits), daily allowances and provisions for disability and survivors' pensions. At 63.5 percent, leisure accidents accounted for the largest share of this, with 33.3 percent attributable to occupational accidents and illnesses, 3.1 percent to accidents involving unemployed persons and 0.1 percent to accidents involving persons on IV measures.

Demographics are changing the risk of accidents

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/unfallstatistik-915000-unfaelle-im-jahr-2024-verzeichnet/

Whether it's dubious emails, unsecured Wi-Fi connections or suspicious websites, one of the golden rules of everyday working life is: "Don't click on anything." So much for the theory - but reality shows that an increasing awareness of cyber threats does not necessarily mean that office workers behave with the necessary caution.

Five questionable behaviors increase cyber threat

A survey conducted by Sharp among a total of 1,001 Swiss employees in SMEs revealed that almost two thirds of respondents (60 percent) engage in risky IT-related behavior in their day-to-day work that they conceal from their superiors. The five most frequently mentioned questionable behaviors are

• Irregular updating of company laptops (17 percent)
• Logging into unsecured WLAN networks with company end devices (16 percent)
• Sharing memes with colleagues on Whatsapp (16 percent)
• Downloading unauthorized software on company laptops (15 percent)
• Not logged out of the work account at the end of the working day (15 percent)

As awareness of cyber threats has increased overall, the results suggest that security breaches are happening less out of ignorance than out of convenience or indifference.

The survey also shows that companies are particularly vulnerable to cyberattacks on Friday afternoons, with almost one in four respondents (24 percent) saying they were most likely to make a cybersecurity mistake at the end of the working week. More than a third (37 percent) cited stress due to high workloads as a reason for increased likelihood of error.

Cybersecurity? Let the others do it!

Despite growing concerns about cyber threats, many respondents do not believe that it is their responsibility to ensure their company's cyber security. In fact, 26 percent of employees surveyed in Switzerland believe that their company's IT department - and not they themselves - should take care of everything to do with this issue. 16% of Swiss employees even stated that they would not care if their company was hacked - the highest figure in Europe compared to all other countries surveyed in the study.

Overall, the responses suggest that employees need additional motivation and resources to keep cyber security in mind in their day-to-day work - especially just before the weekend or when workloads are high.

Raise awareness and train

According to IBM the cost of a cybersecurity breach in 2024 was $4.88 million - a 10% increase on the previous year and the highest total to date. Given these risks and costs, organizations need to ensure their teams have the right resources and knowledge to protect their digital ecosystems.

"Cybersecurity is not just about protecting companies, but also about protecting the people behind the company data," says François Müller, COO Sharp Electronics Switzerland. "Employees must understand that they themselves play a crucial role in cyber security in their respective companies, that the issue is the responsibility of each individual and that they must therefore act carefully. Companies must equip their employees with the right tools and support them with appropriate training so that they recognize cyber threats early on and know how to deal with them appropriately. The best technical protective measures are of little use if the human security risk is not fully considered and integrated."

Source and further information: www.sharp.ch

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/wenn-mitarbeiter-zur-cyberbedrohung-werden/

At this year's delegates' meeting of Swiss Marketing, Stefan Hoher was elected as a new member of the Board of Directors. Simon Albisser, Katharina Mäder and Ubaldo Piccone were bid farewell after they had previously announced their resignation. The Board of Directors also provided information on current activities and objectives and expressed its thanks to all those involved.

The Board of Directors unanimously elected Stefan Hoher as a new member, who will contribute valuable expertise as an experienced Head of Communications. At the same time, Board members Simon Albisser, Katharina Mäder and Ubaldo Piccone were bid farewell after deciding to step down this year.

Both Simon Albisser and Katharina Mäder have supported Swiss Marketing with great commitment over many years and have played a key role in important developments. Ubaldo Piccone also provided many valuable impulses during his one-year commitment. Swiss Marketing would like to express its sincere thanks for this commitment. The remaining members of the Board of Directors, consisting of Dietger Löffler, Chris Pozzoli and Beat Schlumpf, as well as Managing Director Marco Ancora, who has been in office since February, were unanimously discharged by the delegates.

During the course of the meeting, those present were also given an outlook on the current goals for the further development of the association. In constructive discussions, the Board of Directors shared its plans with those present. The evening concluded with a stand-up dinner in a good atmosphere and lively discussions.

Swiss Marketing is the leading professional and trade association for specialists in the fields of marketing and sales. It brings together the expertise of around 2000 specialists and managers from various sectors. Swiss Marketing also organizes the professional and advanced professional examinations for marketing and sales.

Switzerland, with its numerous mountains, bodies of water and exposed location in the center of Europe, is highly exposed to natural events. Expanded and growing settlement areas and infrastructures - some in high-risk locations - increase the resulting financial risk for policyholders and insurers.

Accumulation of natural damage in the last 10 years

In the public and media perception, the last few years in particular seem to have been characterized by severe weather. However, a look at the long-term data series shows that loss-intensive years occur at regular intervals. However, the conspicuous accumulation of natural hazard events in the years 2021 to 2024 is unusual in this form. This observation is supported by statistics compiled by Helvetia based on internal storm and damage reports on natural hazard losses in Switzerland. Between 1990 and 2024, the frequency of the most important natural events as well as the annual loss amount and the development of the average costs per event category were recorded. 

The total number of severe weather events remained largely constant until the mid-2010s - apart from the particularly lossy years of 1999 (storm Lothar) and 2005 (widespread flooding in the Alpine region). In the last ten years (2015-2024), however, there has been a significant increase in both the number of individual events and the cost of damage. The number of reported claims rose by 126% compared to the first decade (1995-2004). The financial expenses for damage repair increased by 133% in the same period.

Number of natural hazard events and their costs on the rise

When looking at the individual causes of damage, it is noticeable that the number of the most important natural events - such as storms, floods, hail, landslides and rockfall - has increased across the board. The increase is least noticeable in the case of floods and inundations: Despite the high media presence of such events, there has only been an increase of 26% over the last ten years. The volume of damage rose by 33 percent in the same period. The main reason for this is primarily the increase in the value of insured buildings and goods. At the same time, the investments made by the federal government, cantons and local authorities - several billion francs in flood protection since 2005 - have had an effect: they have prevented far greater damage. Nevertheless, floods and inundations were responsible for around a quarter of the damage caused in Switzerland between 2015 and 2024.

Hail as the primary cost driver

The trend in hail damage is particularly striking - both for individual and major events. The number of reported hail damage claims rose by 366% in the last ten years compared to the reference period, and the amount of damage even increased by 490%. With a share of over 51% of all claims paid by Helvetia between 2015 and 2024, hail has become the primary cost driver in the area of natural hazards in Switzerland. For Patrick Rohner, Head of the Non-life Claims Center at Helvetia Switzerland, this development cannot be explained solely by more frequent hail events: "In addition to the increased frequency and intensity of hail events, the increasing size of the hailstones is primarily responsible for the exponentially growing loss amounts." According to Rohner, another factor is the increased value of the vehicles and buildings affected, as well as the structural investments that have been ongoing for around ten years - in solar systems, for example.

In the areas of storm and landslide/rockfall/rockslide, the number of damage reports also increased compared to the two observation periods - by 38% and 24% respectively. It is worth noting that in both categories, the amount of damage has increased significantly more than the number of events: The amount of damage caused by storms increased by 50 percent, and in the landslide/rockfall/rockslide category by as much as 72 percent.

¹⁾ Development between the comparative period 1995 to 2004 and the comparative period 2015 to 2024.

²⁾ Storm, rockfall, landslide, snowslide, snow pressure, avalanche, high water/flooding, hail, wind.

Connection with climate change

According to Adrian Kollegger, Head of Non-Life and member of the Executive Management of Helvetia Switzerland, there is an obvious link between claims development and climate change: "We expect claims sums to increase further in the future as a result of climate change. The ongoing warming is not only leading to more frequent and more intense storms; the melting of the permafrost in the Alps in particular is fundamentally changing the threat situation. Instead of classic flood events, surface events such as landslides, debris flows, rockfalls and rockfalls will increasingly occur."

Increasing urbanization, the expansion of infrastructure and the development of new areas will further increase the risks in the coming years - both in Switzerland and worldwide.

Damage modeling must continue to evolve

So far, the insurance industry has been able to anticipate future developments through sound modeling and manage premiums accordingly within the regulatory framework set by FINMA (ES_AVO). Models for natural hazard losses are continuously optimized tools that can be used to quantify potential losses. They combine historical data on natural hazards with information on the exposure and vulnerability of people, buildings, infrastructure and other assets in order to assess the impact of potential loss events and disasters.

However, relying solely on historical data is no longer sufficient to design sustainable insurance cover for extreme events. Predictive models, the use of artificial intelligence and the global exchange of knowledge between insurers and reinsurers are becoming increasingly important for this challenging task. 

Future threat scenarios must be incorporated even more strongly into risk modeling in order to ensure risk-appropriate and therefore sustainable premiums for insurers and customers, particularly in the unregulated area of natural hazards. In addition, policyholders, insurers and the state will have to invest even more in prevention and advice in the future. Personal support and advice from local branches will continue to play a central role in this. They know the damage potential of their respective region best and are available quickly in the event of a claim - for example with in-depth damage analysis, the provision of hail drive-ins or unbureaucratic immediate assistance.

Source: Helvetia

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/naturschaeden-versicherung-praesentiert-zahlen-und-fakten-zu-den-wichtigsten-bedrohungen/

According to the recently published "State of Ransomware 2025" report by Sophos, almost half of the companies surveyed have already paid a ransom. The average amount of the ransom is around 1 million US dollars (€ 869,591). What is new is that 53 percent of companies have negotiated a lower amount than the original demand. Nevertheless, this is the second-highest rate of payment for ransom demands in six years (the highest level was 56% in the 2024 report). In the latest report, the willingness of victims in Germany (63%) and Switzerland (54%) to pay was above average.

Companies negotiate ransom payments

Despite the high percentage of companies that paid the ransom, more than half (53%) paid less than originally demanded by the cybercriminals. The affected companies in Germany (47%) and especially in Switzerland (65%) also showed their negotiating skills with the cybercriminals and also paid lower amounts than originally demanded.

The average ransom demand fell by a third between the reports of the last two years from an international perspective. At the same time, the average ransom payment fell by 50 percent. This development shows that companies are increasingly successful in minimizing the impact of ransomware attacks.

Ransom demands and payments vary greatly by country

Worldwide, the average ransom demand (median) was 1,324,439 million dollars (€ 1,159,905). At country level, however, the median demand amounts vary greatly; here are some examples:

• 600 thousand dollars (€ 525 thousand) in Germany
• 643 thousand dollars (€ 563 thousand) in France
• 4.12 million dollars (€ 3.61 million) in Italy
• 5.37 million dollars (€ 4.7 million) in the UK
• 2.0 million dollars (€ 1.75 million) in the USA

The ransom sums paid regionally in the sample countries amount to:

• 412 thousand dollars (€ 361 thousand) in Germany
• 232 thousand dollars (€ 203 thousand) in France
• 2.06 million dollars (€ 1.8 million) in Italy
• 5.20 million dollars (€ 4.55 million) in the UK
• 1.50 million dollars (€ 1.53 million) in the USA

Vulnerabilities and scarcity of resources are significant risk factors

For the third time in a row, exploited vulnerabilities were the most common technical cause of attacks. 40% of all ransomware victims surveyed stated that the attackers exploited a vulnerability they were unaware of. In Germany and Switzerland, this situation is even worse at 45% and 42% respectively. This illustrates the ongoing difficulties companies have in recognizing and securing their attack surface.

63% of the companies surveyed worldwide confirm that resource problems were a factor in their falling victim to the attack. Companies in Germany (67%) and Switzerland (72%) are even above the international average in this respect. Globally, a lack of specialist knowledge was cited as the most important operational cause in companies with more than 3,000 employees. Companies with 251 to 500 employees were most likely to struggle with a lack of human resources or capacity.

Internal and external resources are crucial

"In 2025, most organizations see the risk of falling victim to a ransomware attack as a part of everyday business. The good news is that thanks to this increased awareness, many organizations are equipping themselves with additional resources to limit the damage. This includes hiring incident response specialists who can not only reduce ransomware payments, but also speed up recovery from an attack and even stop attacks in progress," said Chester Wisniewski, Field CISO at Sophos. "A real game changer in the fight against ransomware is focusing on the root causes of the attack potential. These include, above all, exploited vulnerabilities, a lack of transparency regarding the attack surface in the company and too few resources. We are seeing that more and more companies are realizing that they need help and are turning to MDR (Managed Detection and Response) services to defend themselves. This cybersecurity service, in conjunction with proactive security strategies such as multi-factor authentication and patching, makes a decisive contribution to preventing ransomware in the first place."

Best practices for effective protection against ransomware and other cyberattacks:

• Taking action to eliminate common technical and operational causes of attacks, such as exploited vulnerabilities. Tools such as Sophos Managed Risk can help companies to determine their risk profile and minimize their risk in a targeted manner.
• Ensure that all endpoint devices (including servers) are equipped with special anti-ransomware protection.
• Provision and testing of an incident response plan. Good backups and regular practicing of data recovery play an important role in this.
• 24/7 monitoring and detection. If companies do not have the necessary internal resources, trusted Managed Detection and Response (MDR) providers can help to meet these requirements.

Source: Sophos

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/ransomware-fast-jedes-zweite-unternehmen-zahlt-oft-nach-verhandlung/

The members of Leading Swiss Agencies (LSA) elected Claudia Ziltener (thjnk Zurich), Daniel Jörg (Team Farner) and Pascal Winkler (Publicis Groupe Switzerland) to the Board of Directors at their meeting on Wednesday, June 25 at the Razzia in Zurich.

"I am delighted to be involved in the association that showed me the way into the industry. In particular, I would like to promote partnership-based cooperation between agencies and clients as well as the promotion of young talent in our industry. The latter is particularly close to my heart, as I was able to experience for myself how valuable honest support can be and how enriching it is to work with young talents who will carry our industry into the future," says Claudia Ziltener, member of the management team at thjnk Zurich.

Daniel Jörg, Chief Innovation Officer at Team Farner, adds: "We need to become bolder and more visible as an industry. I want to work on the LSA Board to strengthen our self-image as agencies, make our services more visible and reposition the value of creative communication - for more impact, more pride and more future."

"I am involved in the LSA because I believe that creative excellence comes from the interaction of all disciplines. As a strategist, I see it as my task not only to provide guidance, but also to empower everyone involved to make their contribution to a strong industry with a shared impact," says Pascal Winkler, Chief Strategy Officer of Publicis Groupe Switzerland.

Mark Burow (formerly of Dentsu Creative DACH) and Pablo Koerfer (formerly of Farner Consulting) were duly dismissed from the Board after eight and two years respectively. The LSA would like to thank both of them for their commitment and many years of service to the association and the industry.

Review and insight in a new form

A fully digital annual report was presented to members for the first time. This provides a transparent and clear overview of the LSA year in figures, our events and the LSA network. The report can be viewed online.

The Swiss Medtech Award is presented annually by the industry association Swiss Medtech and is endowed with CHF 50,000. It recognizes projects that combine medical innovation, marketability and benefits for the healthcare system. The association represents the interests of over 700 medtech companies in Switzerland and is committed to their international competitiveness and optimal framework conditions.

At the forefront of digitalization

For the Solothurn-based scale-up Qumea, winning the award is a great recognition. CEO and co-founder of the company Cyrill Gyger emphasizes that he is delighted to have won the highly endowed prize. The award shows that digital change has also arrived in the traditional medtech sector and that the industry is working intensively with new technologies. "It makes us proud to be at the forefront of actively shaping the digital transformation in the medtech industry with Qumea and providing impetus for the future," says Gyger.

CTO Jonas Reber also underlines the signal effect of the jury's decision: "Artificial intelligence and medtech are growing ever closer together - just as precision mechanics or miniaturization have driven innovation in the past. I am very pleased that we can contribute to this change with Qumea."

Radar detects movements and alerts if there is a risk of falling

Qumea has developed a solution for digital mobility monitoring in care rooms. The system records anonymous radar-based movement data, evaluates it, visualizes it and automatically provides information about dangerous situations. Patient privacy is protected as no cameras or microphones are used. In acute care, an average reduction in falls of 74 % was achieved. According to Qumea, this sets a new standard in proactive and preventative patient care.

The award was presented on June 25, 2025 as part of the Swiss Medtech Day 2025 in Bern - the leading platform for the Swiss medical technology sector, where experts from industry, research and healthcare network every year. In addition to Qumea, evismo, with a solution for diagnosing heart, sleep and stress disorders, and Bonebridge, a provider of innovative implants for the treatment of bone fractures, were also nominated for the award.

Source and further information: Qumea

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/der-swiss-medtech-award-2025-geht-an-qumea/

The advertising marketer Goldbach and the AdTech company GoWit, which specializes in commerce and retail media, are entering into a pioneering partnership and combining Goldbach's established local advertising network with GoWit's retail media advertising technology.

The partnership gives retailers and advertisers access to an omnichannel self-service advertising platform that allows them to integrate retail media solutions faster than ever before. Retailers can monetize their digital advertising inventory while maintaining full control over their media assets.

Advertisers, in turn, come into contact with customers where they are most likely to make a purchase. The partnership is an important step for the advertising marketer: "Retail Media is representative of the rapid change in digital advertising as a whole and the increased demands of our clients," says Stefan Wagner, Managing Director of Goldbach Audience. "And so I am all the more pleased that we have found the ideal partner in this area with GoWit and its globally proven advertising technology."

He is convinced that GoWit's technology will enable even more effective use of data and therefore more efficient campaigns for advertisers. Emrah Adsan, CEO of GoWit, sees it the same way: "With the enormous dynamics in the Swiss advertising market, Goldbach is the perfect partner and offers our advertising technology a huge network". This will enable them to create a complete retail media advertising solution that will benefit retailers, advertisers and agencies alike. "After working together over the past few months, we are convinced of the added value we can offer retailers and advertisers in Switzerland". The next step is to attract more retailers and brands to the platform in order to continuously expand the inventory and reach.

The Goldbach Group companies market and broker advertising in the TV, radio, print, online, outdoor advertising and performance marketing sectors. The focus is on simple information, consulting and booking processes. In order to reach end consumers at the right time, in the right place and in the right context, Goldbach pursues a consistent multi-channel approach. The Goldbach Group is based in Küsnacht and is a TX Group company. 

GoWit is a leading AdTech company on a mission to democratize retail media advertising and make it accessible to retailers and marketplaces of all sizes. With a 15-minute self-service integration, the GoWit platform enables clients such as Carrefour, Heureka Group, Kingfisher, Toters Delivery, Mumzworld and Teknosa to build and scale their high-margin advertising business without complex technical hurdles or additional fees. With omnichannel ad formats, contextual targeting, an automated bidding algorithm and real-time analytics, GoWit provides effective advertising solutions and campaign management tools to deliver impressive results and maximize revenue. 

The change of name creates what it claims to be one of the most powerful groups of experts for cyber security in the German-speaking world. This includes over 350 employees, a comprehensive 360° cyber security portfolio and a Security Operations Center (SOC) staffed around the clock in both Germany and Switzerland. The vision of the two companies is clear: to protect organizations in the DACH region with state-of-the-art and comprehensive cyber security and make the world more digitally secure every day.

Bundled cyber expertise with added value for customers

By bundling the cyber expertise of Com-Sys and InfoGuard, customers gain better access to international resources. The integration into the InfoGuard Group opens up an expanded cyber security portfolio, access to international teams of experts, standardized processes and state-of-the-art technology - including the two high-security SOCs in Switzerland and Germany. As an officially BSI-qualified APT response service provider, InfoGuard Com-Sys also offers an even more professional response to security incidents through a specialized and one of the most experienced CSIRT (Computer Security Incident Response Team). New services such as Managed Detection & Response (MDR), in-depth consulting as well as highly specialized and comprehensive penetration tests and red teaming services are now also available throughout Germany.

Management structure and further corporate development

Daniel Heinzig remains Managing Director of InfoGuard Com-Sys GmbH. In addition to Daniel Heinzig, Ralf Haubrich, Chief Revenue Officer (CRO), InfoGuard Com-Sys GmbH, Thomas Meier, CEO, InfoGuard AG, and Peter Letter, President of the Board of Directors, InfoGuard AG, form the management of InfoGuard Com-Sys GmbH. "This merger is an investment in our future and that of our customers," says Daniel Heinzig, Managing Director of InfoGuard Com-Sys. "We don't just want to keep pace with developments in the cyber world - we want to play an active role in shaping them." Thomas Meier, CEO of InfoGuard, agrees: "This step marks a significant milestone for InfoGuard - and above all for our customers. With the expanded team of experts, new locations and our comprehensive portfolio, we are ideally positioned. Our goal is clear: together we will do everything we can to ensure that our customers are protected in the best possible way today and tomorrow."

Source and further information: www.infoguard.ch

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/com-sys-und-infoguard-buendeln-ihre-cyber-expertise/

Companies from Germany, Austria and Switzerland are setting new standards in the implementation of European sustainability regulations - primarily thanks to their high level of digitalization and automation. The new study "The State of Sustainability Reporting in Europe" of the software company osapiens shows that 88% of the companies surveyed in the DACH region already use digital solutions to implement regulatory requirements, a third (29%) of which are even fully automated. In all other regions (Nordics, Spain, France, Italy, Benelux), this proportion is 9%.

This technological lead is paying off: 85% of the companies surveyed in German-speaking countries believe they are now ready to meet the new requirements of the Corporate Social Responsibility Directive (CSRD) and the EU Supply Chain Directive (CSDD). Across Europe, the figure is only 41 percent. Automation improves data quality, speeds up evaluations and increases legal certainty.

Regulation as a driver of innovation

Despite ongoing discussions about sustainability regulations, around 97% of DACH companies currently see regulatory requirements as a driver of innovation and competitiveness. This is significantly more than in any other region in Europe (82 percent). 

The report is able to show where reporting pressure has provided innovation impetus. 65% of respondents were able to improve their product developments as a direct result of ESG requirements, while 64% reported more efficient processes. 63 percent benefit from better market positioning. Many German-speaking companies therefore clearly see regulations as an opportunity for the future.

Data access and quality determine success

Despite their digital lead, many DACH companies face structural challenges when it comes to data management: 41% report a lack of integration between ESG and financial reporting, while 36% still record relevant key figures manually and in a time-consuming manner. Added to this are regulatory complexity (35%), a lack of real-time transparency (34%) and problems with data quality (29%).  

Even if the willingness to digitize is high, many companies still lack the necessary basis. 38% of DACH companies see the fragmentation of their ESG data across various internal and external sources as the biggest challenge. 33% complain about a lack of specialist expertise, while 31% struggle with the integration of automated ESG solutions into existing systems. For 29 percent, high implementation costs represent an additional hurdle.  

Digital maturity gives companies a clear competitive advantage. In the DACH region, 92% of companies keep an eye on their impact along the supply chain - across Europe, only 61% of companies manage to do so. This makes technology a key factor for transparency and the regulatory ability to act.

DACH remains flexible even with new requirements

The DACH region shows strength not only in existing requirements, but also in dealing with regulatory dynamics. The planned EU omnibus initiative is assessed differently. 38% of the companies surveyed see it as an opportunity to reduce regulatory burdens and simplify ESG reporting obligations. At the same time, 34% see the initiative as a new source of uncertainty. Despite this divided assessment, many DACH companies feel that they are generally well equipped (85%). By comparison, the average across Europe is only 41%.

"Digitalization determines regulatory success"

"The DACH region shows impressively that those who invest in technology at an early stage are not only compliant from a regulatory perspective, but also have a strategic advantage," explains Alberto Zamora, CEO and co-founder of osapiens. "Automation, platform thinking and central data strategies are the key to not only meeting the constantly growing requirements, but also to gaining a real competitive advantage." 

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/nachhaltigkeit-als-innovationstreiber-dach-region-fuehrend/

High above the city, with a view over the lake and the Alps, the brand elite met at the Dolder Grand. The Swiss Brand Congress once again brought together around 650 managers, agency heads and brand experts to discuss what makes brands strong today - and irreplaceable tomorrow. In the midst of times of exponential change, it became clear that those who manage brands need foresight - technologically, culturally and creatively.

Excellent brand management - from Malters and from HSG

Two personalities were in the spotlight at the Swiss Academy of Marketing Science's brand awards ceremony:

Marc GläserCEO of Stöckli Swiss Sports AG, was honored with the "Marketing Thought Leader Award" 2025. His track record: the company's consistent focus on skis, coupled with a strategy of excellence driven by craftsmanship, innovation and athletes. Under his leadership, Stöckli developed from a broad sporting goods brand into a highly specialized provider of premium skis - with Marco Odermatt as a shining testimonial.

Prof. Dr. Johanna Gollnhofer, consumer researcher at the HSG, was honored with the "Rigor & Relevance Research Award". Her studies on "consumption in abundance" show how strongly material things are linked to order, identity and emotional support - a topic that even brands cannot ignore. Her conclusion: full cupboards tell us more about ourselves than we think. For brands, this means that if you want to understand how people buy, you have to understand how they live.

AI at Beiersdorf: structured transformation instead of hype

The extent to which AI is already being used in companies was demonstrated by Jasmin Quellmann, Head of MarTech & AI at Beiersdorfin one of the most impressive presentations of the day. The traditional Hamburg-based company behind brands such as Nivea, Eucerin and Labello does not rely on loose tests, but on a sophisticated framework called "Amy" - a combination of technological excellence and internal change management.

Amy stands for "AI" and "me" - the conscious connection between technology and people. More than 40 specific use cases were identified, validated and evaluated in a structured governance process. These range from intelligent font recognition in DAM systems and AI-supported storyboarding with tools such as Bria to ethics guidelines for AI-generated images, particularly in sensitive areas such as skin depiction.

Beiersdorf is pursuing a clear goal: AI should not only bring efficiency, but also create space for more creativity - by automating repetitive tasks and through better insights from R&D and market research.

One highlight was the example of the localization of product visuals: where previously dozens of variants had to be created manually, AI now generates localized formats in seconds, for example for e-commerce or social media. AI is also used specifically for voiceovers, model rights management and quality assurance.

However, Quellmann also made it clear that over 50 % of all AI projects fail. The reasons are a lack of fit, legal risks or a lack of integration. "AI is not a dressage horse," she said, "it's a wild ride. But one that is worthwhile - if you are prepared to take responsibility."

Publicis: Campaigning to the beat of algorithms

Also with Publicis AI is no longer an optional extra, but part of day-to-day business. Pascal Winkler, Chief Strategy Officer of the Group, painted a clear picture of the new reality: the consumer journey is fragmented, platforms decide what is seen - no longer brands. Anyone who still thinks in terms of annual plans is losing out.

Publicis has therefore worked with "Jane Canvas" developed a tool that orchestrates the entire creative process - from insight to conception to visual implementation. Thanks to central AI tools, campaigns can be created iteratively, tested more quickly and adapted in series. The combination of Gen AI, analytical AI and media intelligence creates new possibilities - for example in post-campaign analysis, where a commercial mix model calculates the best ROI across all channels.

The message: creativity remains human, but it changes. Not through renunciation, but through a new approach to ideas.

Lindt: Between stretch and stability

Andrea Hänggi from Lindt gave an insight into how the traditional brand Innovation score around 13.2 % in particular thanks to the attention-grabbing "Dubai chocolate". The campaign struck a chord with a younger target group and showed that even established brands are capable of cultural impulses.

Nevertheless, it is a balancing act, says Hänggi: working with creators requires clear briefings, freedom - but also veto rights. Lindt wants to keep its finger on the pulse without losing the brand framework. Social Listening remains central - new campaigns are open, but not a sure-fire success.

Post advertising: cross-media at the heart of the action

For Sabrina Wettstein, representative of the main sponsor Post Advertisingthe congress is a "strategic homebase event". Having been on board for three years, it is clear that the partnership is paying off - both in business and cultural terms.

With strong performances and dialogs - for example with Denner on the topic of customer centricity - Post Advertising has shown itself to be a cross-media provider with proximity to retail and moving images. The topic Retail Mediais omnipresent - as is the passion for new campaigns, says Wettstein. Inspiration and networking are ideally combined at the Dolder: "You meet familiar faces - and gain new customers."

ESB: The revolution doesn't have to be rushed

Hans-Willy Brockesorganizer and CEO of the ESB Marketing Networkpleaded for a clear head in turbulent times:

"We are in the middle of a revolution - but the great art is to remain calm."

The marketing world is more complex than ever. There is no longer "the" highlight, but a multitude of relevant topics - from AI to bionics to live marketing. The danger? Getting bogged down. Brockes advised setting priorities and moving into the new world step by step.

His reminder about creativity came without AI: "The best ideas don't come from models, but from real minds." And his personal favorite brand? Red Bull - because of the consistency with which it creates worlds with emotion, experience and sponsorship. "I'm surprised that hardly anyone imitates this - but maybe that's a good thing."

The brand as a cultural system

Anina Segat (MetaDesign) and Marko Bjelonic (RIVR) concluded by discussing how brand management can be rethought in the AI age - not as a purely communicative, but as a cultural task. Brands are interfaces between people, technology and society. If you want to manage them well, you need more than tools - you need attitude.

Conclusion

The Swiss Brand Congress 2025 impressively demonstrated this: Brand management today is no longer a linear business, but a polyphonic process. AI, cultural change, new touchpoints - everything is changing. What remains is the importance of attitude, creativity and structure. And perhaps it is precisely this view from the Zürichberg that helps us to see the big picture.