The Board of Directors of Sonova Holding AG today appointed Lukas Braunschweiler as new CEO of the company. The 55 year old Swiss citizen is currently the CEO of the Swiss technology group Ruag, his most recent position in a long career that has spanned Switzerland and the United States in the high-tech industry. He will be taking his position as CEO of Sonova on November 1, 2011. "With Lukas Braunschweiler we have gained an experienced executive who has an impressive track record in the successful development of listed companies. Additionally, he has international experience and a profound knowledge of the high-tech industry", says Robert Spoerry, Chairman of Sonova's Board of Directors. "Moreover, his affinity for technology, along with his focused and structured - yet team-oriented - leadership style, fits well with Sonova's culture."
Before starting with Ruag in 2009, Braunschweiler worked for seven years as CEO at Dionex Corporation in California, a company listed on the New York-based stock exchange, Nasdaq. He was instrumental in the successful expansion and development of the life science company, which under his leadership recorded a strong growth in turnover as well as in earnings. Prior to this, Braunschweiler held various management positions at the precision instruments manufacturer Mettler Toledo, for which he was active in both Switzerland and the United States. His assignments also brought him into close contact with Asian markets.
A scientist by education, Braunschweiler holds a Master of Science and a doctorate in physical chemistry from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETHZ). "Sonova is in many ways an exceptional Swiss high-tech company in an extremely exciting growth market," says Braunschweiler. "I'm looking forward to contributing, together with the Sonova team, to the continuation of this success story."
Alexander Zschokke will continue as interim CEO of the company until Braunschweiler assumes his position. Zschokke is responsible for Sonova's retail operations, and has been interim CEO since the departure of the former CEO, Valentin Chapero, on March 31, 2011.
"Getting such an experienced and successful executive as Lukas Braunschweiler on board is good for our company," says Zschokke. "I'm happy that on the first of November I can handover a strategically well-positioned and healthy company with a strong team. I look forward to supporting Lukas Braunschweiler when he joins our company."
"Out of a sense of loyalty and responsibility, Alexander Zschokke jumped in, when our company was in a difficult situation, and in just a short period of time he brought calm and security back into our organization and made sure that we stayed on course," says Robert Spoerry, Sonova's Chairman. "For that we owe him a great debt of gratitude."
