Tag: Familienunternehmen

Chief Financial Officer temporarily takes over operational management

There has been a change at the top of the Griesser brand: Stefan Leitner has taken over as interim CEO. The former CFO of the Griesser Group, which specialises in sun protection solutions, succeeds Urs Neuhauser, who is leaving the company by mutual agreement on 12 January 2026, as the Griesser Group announced in a statement. “Urs Neuhauser has accompanied the company over the past seven years and helped shape various developments. We would like to thank him for this,” said Walter Strässle, Chairman of the Board of Directors. Stefan Leitner will receive support from Strässle and representatives of the owner family. This will ensure continuity and stability in the management team, according to the press release.

The interim solution marks the start of the succession process. The process of finding a replacement has already begun. In the meantime, Griesser will continue to focus on the further development of sun protection solutions, proximity to customers and sustainable growth in existing and new markets in the production of sun protection solutions.

According to the company, its 140-year history is the result of a pioneering spirit, quality and long-term thinking. Building on this, the family-owned company is looking to the future with confidence.

February 2026
Business award recognises industrial expertise and regional roots in Thurgau

GLATZ AG from Frauenfeld has secured the Thurgau Business Award 2026, which is presented annually by the Thurgau Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Thurgau Trade Association, the Thurgau Cantonal Bank and the Department of Home Affairs and Economic Affairs.

According to a press release, the family business impressed the jury with its combination of cross-generational business activities, international competitiveness and regional loyalty. With its patented sunshade frames, a high level of vertical integration, an in-house sewing workshop and uncompromising quality standards, GLATZ AG is a trendsetter in shade solutions – at a time when the international low-cost market is squeezing out many competitors. The large sunshades from Frauenfeld, which can withstand wind speeds of up to 115 kilometres per hour, are exported from Thurgau to over 50 countries.

“The company has been firmly rooted in Thurgau for over 130 years – and at the same time carries the quality and innovative spirit of Thurgau as a centre of industry out into the world,” says Thomas Koller, jury president of the Thurgau Business Award.

The move to the new headquarters on Langfeldstrasse in Frauenfeld in 2024 shows that GLATZ AG will remain rooted in Thurgau in the future. The new building, which combines research and development, production, administration and a modern training centre under one roof, was also built with a focus on sustainability. Photovoltaic systems, energy-efficient heating and cooling systems and shorter transport routes reduce the CO2 footprint.

The award ceremony will take place on 15 April 2026 at GLATZ AG in Frauenfeld.

December 2025
Long-term entrepreneurship recognized as a model for success

The construction company Richi AG in Weiningen has been awarded the successor prize Phoenix Award 2024 in the category SMEs with 100 to 250 employees. According to a press release, the company was founded in 1924 by Jakob Richi as a gravel pit and today comprises five divisions with 150 employees, is still family-run and is managed by the third and fourth generations. Chairman of the Board of Directors Jakob Richi (third generation) and David Richi (fourth generation) accepted the award on Wednesday, December 4, in Weiningen. David Richi is a member of the Board of Directors and the Executive Board.

Today, Richi AG comprises five divisions, it continues. These are the supply of building materials using recycled gravel and concrete, the recycling of building rubble, the company’s own photovoltaic system, a biomass power plant as well as cranes and special transportation.

“This succession award is a wonderful tribute to us as a family or family entrepreneurs, for whom a succession plan that is right for everyone is an important concern,” David Richi, representing the third and fourth generations, is quoted as saying in his acceptance speech. At the same time, the award is a great recognition for the entire company team and its commitment.

The Phoenix Award for long-term Swiss entrepreneurship has been presented annually by the Swiss umbrella organization for business succession(CHDU) since 2020. The award honors Swiss SMEs that have mastered their succession planning for at least a century. According to the press release, in the canton of Zurich, with its 113,000 companies, of which around 17,800 are facing an open succession, only just under 20 companies achieve this every year.

December 2024
Majority do not want to reduce living space

The study ” Living space utilisation from an individual perspective ” conducted by the Zurich University of Applied Sciences(ZHAW) revealed that 70 percent of those surveyed are not prepared to downsize their living space. Among those living in so-called empty nests, i.e. with empty rooms of fledged children, only 26 per cent feel that their home is too big. An excess of two rooms, i.e. two more rooms than the number of people living in the household, is considered ideal by the respondents, according to a statement from the ZHAW. According to the study, only 42 per cent of respondents willing to move are prepared to reduce the number of rooms. 32 per cent do not want to deviate from their expectations regarding housing costs.

“It turns out that the combination of moving and downsizing – i.e. two drastic changes at the same time – is particularly challenging,” Selina Lehner, co-head of the study, is quoted as saying. “If there is also a lack of important incentives, this decision is often postponed.” Only one in three people surveyed believe that older couples or single people in flats that are too large should give up their living space for younger families. According to the ZHAW, the fact that the new rent for smaller flats is often more expensive than the existing rent in the larger flat plays a role here.

The home office is gaining in importance. 61 per cent of those surveyed stated that they wanted to set up a home office in the future. This is because “an external office, for example, is not as attractive as an office within your own four walls,” says study co-leader Holger Hohgardt.

A total of 1097 people in German-speaking and French-speaking Switzerland took part in the study in spring 2024. The ZHAW conducted the survey in collaboration with the Federal Office for Housing, the Fédération Romande Immobilière, the Swiss Homeowners’ Association and Raiffeisen Switzerland.

June 2024
Prix SVC Eastern Switzerland 2024 goes to Zindel United

Zindel United from Maienfeld has won this year’s Prix SVC Ostschweiz, the Swiss Venture Club(SVC) announced in a press release. The prize honours innovative companies in the region for outstanding achievements that enable sustainable economic success to be realised. “Zindel United realises its vision – developing complete solutions from ideas for future generations, inspiring people and protecting the environment in the process – in an exemplary and pioneering manner,” said jury president Andrea Fanzun in the press release, quoting from his laudatory speech.

Zindel United specialises in construction-related services. The family-run company, now in its eighth generation, is committed to the circular economy in the construction industry. To this end, Zindel United relies on local raw materials and, according to the company, “is making a relevant contribution to achieving the 2050 climate targets with Switzerland’s first demonstrably CO2-neutral concrete”.

Märchenhotel AG from Braunwald GL and Huber Fenster AG from Herisau AR were awarded the silver and bronze medals in the competition. The multi-award-winning Märchenhotel for families with children has developed into one of the largest tourist employers in the canton of Glarus since it was founded in 1977. Huber Fenster AG, now in its fifth generation, specialises in custom-made windows and façade elements that meet the architect’s specifications.

March 2024
Veriset brings Mujinga Kambundji on board

Mujinga Kambundji joins Lucerne-based kitchen manufacturer Veriset as brand ambassador. The track and field athlete holds the national records over 60, 100 and 200 metres and last year won gold at the World Indoor Championships over 60 metres and at the European Championships over 200 metres. Despite her great success, the Bernese has “remained down-to-earth and radiates joie de vivre and sympathy”, writes Veriset in a statement. As brand ambassador, “the fastest woman in Switzerland” is to “give an emotional boost to Veriset’s products”.

The company and the brand ambassador have a lot in common, the statement says. As the daughter of a Swiss woman and a Congolese man, Kambundji “stands for a multicultural Switzerland”, while “people from around 25 nations” work at Veriset. The family business values “family values such as honesty, respect and appreciation” and appreciates “authentic personalities”. The new brand ambassador is “known to be an absolute family man” and at the same time “a modern woman who always gives 100 per cent and has her next goal firmly in sight,” Daniel Jost, co-owner and managing director of Veriset AG, is quoted as saying in the statement. “For us, Mujinga embodies all the values that Veriset also stands for and which should become more visible thanks to the commitment.”

March 2023
Patrick Berger takes over management of DBU Facility Services

Patrick Berger has been the new Managing Director of DBU Facility Services AG in Schlieren since 1 January. The 30-year-old is not only the new head of the family business, but also a partner in DBU, according to a media release from the company specialising in facility management. Patrick Berger takes over the company management from his father Daniel Berger.

He joined DBU in 2020 to assist with the introduction of the Abacus ERP software. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) covers the areas of personnel, resources, capital, operating resources, materials and information and communication technology. For more than two years, Patrick Berger has been working to further digitalisation within the DBU.

“It is a huge privilege and not at all self-evident that I can take on such a great responsibility at my young age,” Patrick Berger, who has a Master’s degree in business administration, is quoted as saying. “Thanks to this succession solution, the responsibility for DBU remains in the hands of the owners,” Daniel Berger is quoted as saying.

In addition to the new managing director, DBU has also brought other young executives into the team. in 2021, Joanna Schneider took over as Head of Administration and Human Resources. She joined DBU as a commercial apprentice and has worked her way up to become a member of the management team.

Sandro De Nardo, Head of Finance and responsible for Information and Communication Technology (ICT), is a new, young face who joined the DBU in 2021. In spring 2022, Reto Langenegger, an experienced facility management employee, joined the company as operational head of Facility Services. With the strong management team, the new managing director wants to concentrate on overarching topics and strengthen the DBU’s position in the market.

March 2023