The Board of Trustees of Lucerne Economic Development has elected 54-year-old Patrik Wermelinger from Lucerne as its new Director. He comes from the canton of Lucerne, lives with his wife in Meierskappel and has known the regional economy at close quarters for many years. He has a degree in business administration and an Executive MBA in General Management, which he completed at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts.
Wermelinger is currently Chief Investment Promotion Officer and a member of the Executive Board at Switzerland Global Enterprise. In this role, he supports international companies in setting up operations in Switzerland and operates at the interface between location marketing, investment decisions and global competition for projects. This profile predestines him to position Lucerne visibly in the competition between business locations. With a clear understanding of the requirements of international investors.
Familiar head with a return bonus
Patrik Wermelinger is no stranger to Lucerne. From 2006 to 2016, he was head of location promotion and marketing at the Lucerne Economic Development Agency. During this time, he built up a broad network of companies, municipalities, institutions and partners in Switzerland and abroad. He knows the strengths, but also the challenges of the economic region from practical experience. From industry to tourism and knowledge-intensive services.
This return with additional international experience is a strategic advantage for the organization. Wermelinger brings in-depth relocation and promotion experience from Switzerland as a whole, combined with a clear view of Lucerne as an independent brand in the competition between locations. This creates good conditions for maintaining existing relationships and attracting new companies. Especially in an environment in which location decisions are more competitive.
Orderly transition at the top
Patrik Wermelinger will take over as Director on June 1, 2026. The current Director, Ivan Buck, will retain operational responsibility until the end of February 2026. He will then set up his own company in the field of relationship management. For the transition phase between March and the end of May 2026, Deputy Director Andreas Zettel will take over management on an interim basis and ensure a smooth transition.
Lucerne Economic Development thus relies on continuity in ongoing operations and a clear handover. The combination of temporal overlap, internal interim solution and succession communicated at an early stage strengthens planning security for partners, municipalities and companies that work with the organization.
Trust in expertise and personality
The Board of Trustees is convinced that it has made the right choice in Patrik Wermelinger. President Erwin Steiger emphasizes both the high level of expertise and the international experience of the designated Director. At the same time, he emphasizes his trustworthy and winning manner. A combination that is central to the work at the interface between politics, administration and business.
With this personnel decision, Lucerne Economic Development is positioning itself for the coming years with regional roots, an international network and a director at the helm who already knows Lucerne as a location.
