{"id":58,"date":"2024-06-18T15:19:00","date_gmt":"2024-06-18T13:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/internationalsociety.ch\/?page_id=58"},"modified":"2026-03-19T20:02:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T19:02:18","slug":"past-events","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/internationalsociety.ch\/?page_id=58","title":{"rendered":"Past Events"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

VERY RECENT EVENTS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Titles are valid at the time of the event<\/p>\n\n\n\n

.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On November 13, 2025 in Bern, the Swiss International Society had the pleasure of welcoming Albert R\u00f6sti, Switzerland’s Federal Minister in charge of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications.<\/strong> Around 45 senior business leaders and other prominent figures, as well as an exceptional Olympian (see picture), actively participated in this event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Pictured (from left to right): Minister Albert R\u00f6sti, Alena Marx<\/a> (Olympian, world champion & two-time European champion in kayak cross), Philippe D. Monnier (President of the Swiss International Society).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More details: link<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On December 1, 2025 in Geneva, the Swiss International Society was delighted to welcome Andr\u00e9 Hoffmann, Co-Chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF) and Vice-Chairman of Roche.<\/strong> Around 45 senior business leaders and other prominent figures, as well as an exceptional Olympian (see picture), actively participated in this event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Pictured (from left to right): Andr\u00e9 Hoffmann, Oliver Zeidler (Paris 2024 Olympic Champion, rowing), Philippe D. Monnier (President of the Swiss International Society).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More details: link<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On January 30, 2025 in Zurich, the Swiss International Society and the Wharton Alumni Club of Switzerland (WACS) had the pleasure of welcoming Guy Parmelin, Switzerland’s Federal Minister in Charge of Economic Affairs, Education and Research.<\/strong> Around 45 senior business leaders and other prominent figures, as well as an exceptional Olympian (see picture), actively participated in this event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Pictured (from left to right): Xiaodan Pred\u00f6hl (WACS Vice President and Pictet\u2019s Managing Director), Philippe D. Monnier (President of the Swiss International Society and Wharton Alumni Club of Switzerland); Minister Guy Parmelin, Nicole Platel (Olympian and Director of Pro Juventute).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More details: link<\/a>; post of Minister Guy Parmelin: link<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On November 20, 2025 in Zurich, the Swiss International Society had the pleasure of welcoming Martin Hoffmann, CEO & CFO of On.<\/strong> Around 45 senior business leaders and other prominent figures, as well as an exceptional Olympian (see picture), actively participated in this event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Pictured (from left to right): Martin Hoffmann, Valentina Rosamilia<\/a> (Olympian, On Ambassador), Philippe D. Monnier (President of the Swiss International Society).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More details: link<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On November 26, 2024, in Zurich, the Swiss International Society and the Wharton Alumni Club of Switzerland (WACS) were delighted to welcome Paul Bulcke, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Nestl\u00e9 SA.<\/strong> Around 45 senior business leaders and other prominent figures, as well as an exceptional Olympian, actively participated in this event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Pictured (from left to right): Philippe D. Monnier (President of the Swiss International Society and Wharton Alumni Club of Switzerland); Paul Bulcke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More details.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On February 10, 2025, in Geneva, the Swiss International Society and the Wharton Alumni Club of Switzerland (WACS) had the pleasure of welcoming B\u00f8rge<\/strong> Brende, President and CEO of the World Economic Forum (WEF).<\/strong> Around 45 senior business leaders and other prominent figures, as well as two exceptional Paralympians\/Olympians (see picture), actively participated in this event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Pictured (from left to right): Rahul Saghal<\/a> (CEO of the Swiss American Chamber of Commerce<\/a>), Celine van Till PLY<\/a> (Vice Paralympic Champion, multiple world champion), B\u00f8rge Brende<\/a>, Philippe D. Monnier<\/a> (President of the Swiss International Society and Wharton Alumni Club of Switzerland), Nafissath Abeke RADJI<\/a> (Olympian, Olympic flag-bearer).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More details.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 19, 2026 in Geneva, the Swiss International Society had the pleasure of welcoming V\u00e9ronique Athan\u00e9 Ryser, CEO (Directrice g\u00e9n\u00e9rale) of Services industriels de Gen\u00e8ve (SIG)<\/strong>.<\/strong> Around 40 senior business leaders and other prominent figures, as well as an exceptional Olympian (see picture), actively participated in this event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Pictured (from left to right): Maud Jayet<\/a> (Swiss sailor, Olympian, vice-world champion, V\u00e9ronique Athan\u00e9 Ryser<\/a> and Philippe D. Monnier (President of the Swiss International Society).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More details: link<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On October 22, 2025, the Swiss International Society had the pleasure of welcoming Urs Baumann, CEO of Zurich Cantonal Bank (ZKB)<\/strong>. Around 45 senior business leaders and other prominent figures, as well as an exceptional Olympian (see picture), actively participated in this event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Pictured (from right to left): Urs Baumann<\/a>, Petra Klingler<\/a> (Swiss Climber, Olympian, multiple world champion), Philippe D. Monnier<\/a> (President of the Swiss International Society).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More details<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On September 25, 2025, the Swiss International Society had the pleasure of welcoming Andr\u00e9 Wall, CEO of Ruag International and CEO of Beyond Gravity<\/strong>. Around 45 senior business leaders and other prominent figures, as well as an exceptional Olympian (see picture), actively participated in this event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Pictured (from right to left): Andr\u00e9 Wall<\/a>, Jeannine Gmelin OLY<\/a> (two-time Olympian and world rowing champion), Philippe D. Monnier<\/a> (President of the Swiss International Society).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More details<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On September 15, 2025, the Swiss International Society had the pleasure of welcoming Delphine Bachmann, Minister of Economy and Labor, Canton of Geneva<\/strong>. Around 45 senior business leaders and other prominent figures, as well as an exceptional Olympian (see picture), actively participated in this event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Pictured (from left to right): Delphine Bachmann<\/a>, J\u00e9r\u00e9my Desplanches<\/a> (Olympic medallist and European swimming champion), Philippe D. Monnier<\/a> (President of the Swiss International Society).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More details<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 19, 2025, the Swiss International Society and the Wharton Alumni Club of Switzerland (WACS) had the pleasure of welcoming Brice Koch, Chairman of Hitachi Europe<\/strong>. Around 45 senior business leaders and other prominent figures, as well as an exceptional Olympian (see picture), actively participated in this event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Pictured (from left to right): Brice Koch; Alexandra Hasler (Snowboard Swiss Champion and Olympian), Philippe D. Monnier (President of the Swiss International Society and Wharton Alumni Club of Switzerland).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More details.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On January 15, 2024 in Geneva, the Swiss International Society and the Wharton Alumni Club of Switzerland (WACS) had the pleasure of welcoming Cyrille Vigneron, Chairman of Cartier (Culture & Philanthropy) and President of the Watches & Wonders Geneva Foundation.<\/strong> Around 45 senior business leaders and other prominent figures, as well as an exceptional Olympian (see picture), actively participated in this event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Pictured (from left to right): Milda Valciukaite<\/a> (Olympic medallist and five-time world rowing champion), Cyrille Vigneron, Philippe D. Monnier (President of the Swiss International Society and Wharton Alumni Club of Switzerland).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More details<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On October 9, 2024, in Geneva, the Swiss International Society and the Wharton Alumni Club of Switzerland (WACS) were delighted to welcome Gilles Andrier, CEO of  Givaudan.<\/strong> Around 45 senior business leaders and other prominent figures actively participated in this event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This event was organized with the branding cooperation of the Swiss American Chamber of Commerce<\/a> and the Joint Chamber of Commerce<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the picture (from left to right): Gilles Andrier, Philippe D. Monnier (President of the Swiss International Society and Wharton Alumni Club of Switzerland), Joumana Diab<\/a> (President of the Wharton Alumni Club of Geneva); Yury Glazkov<\/a> (Board Member of the Wharton Alumni Club of Switzerland).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More details<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LESS RECENT EVENTS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the past 30 years, Philippe D. Monnier has organized and\/or conducted about 1000 events and\/or interviews with prominent leaders, including virtually all Swiss Presidents\/Ministers and top leaders of the largest Swiss-based companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some examples of leaders are listed below. Titles are valid at the time of the event and\/or interview.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

International Organizations<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, President, International Committee of the Red Cross<\/td>		\"\"
Tatiana Valovaya, Director General, United Nations Office at Geneva<\/td>		\"\"
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director General, World Trade Organization<\/td><\/tr>
\"\"
Thomas Bach, President, International Olympic Committee<\/td>		\"\"
B\u00f8rge Brende, President, World Economic Forum<\/td>		\"\"
Jean Todt, President, F\u00e9d\u00e9ration Internationale de l\u2019Automobile<\/td><\/tr>
\"\"
Morinari Watanabe, President, International Gymnastics Federation<\/td>		\"\"Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President, International Automobile Federation<\/td>\"\"
Arthur Dunkel, Director-General, General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
International Organizations<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Swiss Politics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Ignazio Cassis, President of Switzerland & Minister of Foreign Affairs<\/td>
\"\"
Guy Parmelin, President of Switzerland & Minister of the Economy, Education & Research<\/td>		\"\"
Johann Schneider-Ammann, President of Switzerland & Minister of the Economy, Education & Research<\/td><\/tr>
\"\"
Ueli Maurer, President of Switzerland & Minister of Finance<\/td>		\"\"
Karin Keller-Sutter, Minister of Justice and Police, then Minister of Finance<\/td>		\"\"
Viola Amherd, Minister of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport<\/td><\/tr>
\"\"
Simonetta Sommaruga, Minister of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications<\/td>		\"\"
Doris Leuthard, President, Swiss Digital Initiative; former President of Switzerland<\/td>		\"\"
Helen Budliger Artieda, State Secretary, State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO)<\/td><\/tr>
\"\"
Fabienne Fischer, Minister of Economy and Employment, Canton of Geneva<\/td>		\"\"
Dr. Raimund Bruhin, CEO, Swissmedic<\/td>
\"\"
Mark Branson, CEO, Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Swiss Politics<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Swiss Companies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Christoph Aeschlimann, CEO, Swisscom<\/td>		\"\"
Raynald Aeschlimann, CEO & President, OMEGA<\/td>		\"\"
Thomas Wellauer, Chairman, SIX Group<\/td><\/tr>
\"\"
Andr\u00e9 Hoffmann, Vice-Chairman & Representative of the shareholder group with pooled voting rights, Roche<\/td>		\"\"
Sergio Ermotti, Chairman, Swiss Re; former and future CEO, UBS<\/td>		\"\"
Roland Armbruster, CEO, Manor<\/td><\/tr>
\"\"
Pietro Supino, Chairman, TX Media<\/td>		\"\"
Tidjane Thiam, CEO, Credit Suisse<\/td>		\"\"
Andreas Utermann, Chairman, Vontobel<\/td><\/tr>
\"\"
Camille Vial, Managing Partner, Mirabaud Group<\/td>		\"\"
Stefan Butz, CEO, DKSH<\/td>		\"\"
Matteo Gianini, CEO, J.P. Morgan Private Bank Switzerland<\/td><\/tr>
\"\"
Paul Arni, CEO, VP Bank<\/td>		\"\"
Peter Spuhler, Chairman, Stadler Rail<\/td>		\"\"
Bjorn Rosengren, CEO, ABB<\/td><\/tr>
\"\"
Fabrice Zumbrunnen, CEO, Migros Group<\/td>		\"\"
Ricarda Demarmels, CEO, Emmi Group<\/td>		\"\"
Magdalena Martullo-Blocher, CEO, EMS-Chemie<\/td><\/tr>
\"\"
Paul Bulcke, Chairman, Nestl\u00e9<\/td>		\"\"
Roberto Cirillo, CEO, Swiss Post<\/td>		\"\"
Thierry Stern, Chairman, Patek Philippe<\/td><\/tr>
\"\"
Marc Hayek, CEO, Blancpain<\/td>		\"\"Dr. Christopher Franz, Chairman, Roche<\/td>\"\"
St\u00e9phane Bonvin, CEO, Investis<\/td><\/tr>
\"\"
Oliver Pabst, CEO, Mammut<\/td>		\"\"
Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard, Chairman, Calida Group<\/td>		\"\"
Marc B\u00fcrki, CEO, Swissquote<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Swiss Companies<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Foreign Politics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Yingluck Shinawatra, Prime Minister, Thailand<\/td>		\"\"
Felipe Calder\u00f3n Hinojosa, President, Mexico<\/td>		\"\"
GENG Wenbing, Ambassador of China to Switzerland<\/td><\/tr>
\"\"
Kojiro Shiraishi, Ambassador of Japan to Switzerland<\/td>		\"\"
Edward T. McMullen, Jr., Ambassador of the USA to Switzerland<\/td>		\"\"
Yasushi Akahoshi, President, Japan External Trade Organization<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Foreign Politics<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Foreign Companies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Margarita Louis-Dreyfus, Chairwoman, Louis-Dreyfus Group<\/td>		\"\"
Oliver Blume, CEO, Porsche \/ Volkswagen Group<\/td>		\"\"
Rami Habib, Senior Vice President and GM Switzerland, Salesforce<\/td><\/tr>
\"\"
Markus Duesmann, CEO, Audi<\/td>		\"\"
Akio Toyoda, President, Toyota and Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association<\/td>		\"\"
Donald Trump, Chairman & President, The Trump Organization<\/td><\/tr>
\"\"
Alfred Herrausen, Sprecher (CEO), Deutsche Bank<\/td>		\"\"
Kenichi Ohmae, Managing Partner, McKinsey Japan<\/td>		\"\"
Jacques Maisonrouge, Ex-Chairman, IBM World Trade Corporation<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Foreign Companies<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Swiss Organizations\/Universities; Others<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Michel Li\u00e8s, President, Avenir Suisse; Chairman, Zurich Insurance<\/td>		\"\"
Marc Walder, Founder & CEO, digitalswizerland; CEO, Ringier<\/td>		\"\"
Ramon Esteve, Chairman, Swiss Trading & Shipping Association (renamed SUISSEN\u00c9GOCE)<\/td><\/tr>
\"\"
Christoph M\u00e4der, President, economiesuisse (Swiss Business Federation)<\/td>		\"\"
Fabio Regazzi, President, SGV\/USAM (Swiss Industry and Trade Association)<\/td>		\"\"
Annette Luther, President, SwissHoldings<\/td><\/tr>
\"\"
Philippe Fleury, CEO, Geneva Business Federation (FER-Gen\u00e8ve).<\/td>		\"\"
Jean-Daniel Pasche, President, F\u00e9d\u00e9ration Horlog\u00e8re<\/td>		\"\"
Brigitta Gadient, President, Switzerland Tourism<\/td><\/tr>
\"\"
Bertrand Piccard, Chairman, Solar Impulse Foundation<\/td>		\"\"
Alexandre de Senarclens, President, Geneva International Motor Show<\/td>		\"\"
Jo\u00ebl M\u00e9sot, President, ETH Zurich<\/td><\/tr>
\"\"
Jean-Fran\u00e7ois Manzoni, President, IMD<\/td>		\"\"
Martin Vetterli, President, EPFL<\/td>		\"\"
Philippe Revaz, Anchor and Presenter, RTS (Swiss National French-Speaking TV Channel).<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Swiss Organizations\/Universities; Others<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These events\/interviews have sometimes been organized\/conducted in cooperation with or under the banner of the Wharton Alumni Club of Switzerland, the Swiss American Chamber of Commerce, the American International Club of Geneva, the Joint Chamber of Commerce, SwissMBA, l’Agefi, and the Wharton School’s Multinational Management Club.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many of the interviews have been published in Swiss and international media such as Les Echos, swissinfo.ch, tecindustry.ch (Swissmem), I by IMD, Luxury Society, Prestige Immobilier, PME Magazine, Bilan, L’Agefi, Sphere, Helvet, Allnews and Swissquote. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

. VERY RECENT EVENTS Titles are valid at the time of the event . On November 13, 2025 in Bern, the Swiss International Society had the pleasure of welcoming Albert R\u00f6sti, Switzerland’s Federal Minister in charge of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications. Around 45 senior business leaders and other prominent figures, as well as […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":937,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-58","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/internationalsociety.ch\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/58","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/internationalsociety.ch\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/internationalsociety.ch\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/internationalsociety.ch\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/internationalsociety.ch\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=58"}],"version-history":[{"count":146,"href":"https:\/\/internationalsociety.ch\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/58\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1090,"href":"https:\/\/internationalsociety.ch\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/58\/revisions\/1090"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/internationalsociety.ch\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/937"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/internationalsociety.ch\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=58"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}