Corporate Governance

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is the supreme authority within the Datwyler Group. Its members are elected by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting. In particular, the Board of Directors appoints the Chief Executive Officer and determines the overall strategic direction. All current members will be briefly introduced on the following page.

Dr. Paul Hälg

1954, Swiss

Chairman

term expires in 2026

Paul Hälg was appointed to the Board and Chairman of Dätwyler Holding Inc. at the 2017 Annual General Meeting. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Datwyler IT Infra AG, an affiliate of the listed Dätwyler Holding Inc. As former Datwyler CEO (2004 to 2016), he knows the company’s markets and potential. Having been CEO and Chairman of listed companies for many years, he is very familiar with strategic issues. Furthermore, as a PhD chemist, he has a link to elastomer technology which is relevant for Datwyler. Prior to joining Datwyler, he was a member of the Forbo Group Executive Board as Head of the Adhesives division. From 1986 to 2001 Paul Hälg held various senior positions within Gurit-Essex (Gurit-Heberlein Group), most recently as its CEO. Prior to that, he worked at the Swiss Aluminum Group for five years. Paul Hälg is Director of Sonceboz Group S. A. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the ETH Foundation and the Swiss Air Rescue Service (Rega). He graduated from ETH Zurich (Swiss polytechnical university) with a doctorate in chemistry (Dr. sc. techn.).

Dr. Hanspeter Fässler

1956, Swiss

Vice Chairman / Chairman of the Nomination and Compensation Committee

term expires in 2026

Hanspeter Fässler has been a Director of Dätwyler Holding Inc. since 2004 and Vice Chairman since 2017. He is Chairman of the Nomination and Compensation Committee and a member of the Board of Directors of Datwyler IT Infra AG, an affiliate of listed Dätwyler Holding Inc. As co-founder and Chairman of Gravis Robotics AG and as Director of the robotics startups ANYbotics AG and thanks to his ETH PhD in mechatronics/robotics, he contributes expertise in automation, digitalization, technology and innovation amongst other skills to the Datwyler Board. Hanspeter Fässler worked for the ABB Group in various management positions at home and abroad, including as CEO of ABB Switzerland and from 2006 to 2010 as the Head of ABB Mediterranean Region and Chairman of the Executive Board of ABB Italy. From 2010 to 2011 he was CEO of the Implenia construction services group. He received his doctorate in the specialty area Mechatronics/Robotics (Dr. sc. techn.) at ETH Zurich. He also holds an Engineer’s Degree from Stanford University, USA.

Jens Breu

Jens Breu

1972, Swiss

Director / Member of the Nomination and Compensation Committee

term expires in 2026

Jens Breu was appointed to the Board of Dätwyler Holding Inc. in 2019. He’s a member of the Nomination and Compensation Committee. As CEO of the listed SFS Group (since 2016), Jens Breu knows Datwyler’s target markets and is very familiar with the strategic issues of a global component supplier. He has worked for SFS since 1995 and has acquired broad entrepreneurial experience in various functions. Among other things, Jens Breu contributed to shaping the SFS presence in the USA for eight years as Head of Production. In 2012 he was promoted to Head of the Industrial Division and in 2014 to Chief Operating Officer. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Datwyler IT Infra AG, an affiliate of listed Dätwyler Holding Inc., and a member of the Council of Swissmem, the association of the Swiss mechanical, electrical and metal industries. Jens Breu has a mechanical engineering degree from St. Gallen University of Applied Sciences and an MBA from Cleveland State University in the USA.

Claude R. Cornaz

1961, Swiss

Director / Member of the Nomination and Compensation Committee

term expires in 2026

Claude R. Cornaz was appointed to the Board of Dätwyler Holding Inc. at the 2018 General Meeting. He is a member of the Nomination and Compensation Committee. As a member of the majority shareholder family, Claude R. Cornaz has been steering the strategic course of the listed Vetropack Group since 2000 as former CEO and current Chairman. He enriches the Datwyler Board with his entrepreneurial experience, among other skills. From 2000 to 2017, Claude R. Cornaz led the Vetropack Group as a delegate of the Board of Directors and CEO. He has been Chairman of Vetropack Holding Ltd. since 2018. Furthermore, he is a Vice-Chairman of H. Goessler AG and Cornaz AG- Holding. Claude R. Cornaz is a certified mechanical engineer ETH/BWI.

Jürg Fedier

1955, Swiss

Director / Chairman of the Audit Committee

term expires in 2026

Jürg Fedier was appointed to the Board of Dätwyler Holding Inc. at the 2015 Annual General Meeting. He is chairman of the Audit Committee. As a long-standing CFO and director of listed companies, he contributes his comprehensive experience in finance, auditing and business development amongst other skills to the Datwyler Board. From 2009 to 2019, he served as Chief Financial Officer of the listed Oerlikon Group. From 2007 to 2008 he acted as CFO of Ciba Group. Between 2006 and 2007, he was Head of Finance of Dow Europe and a Member of the Executive Board. From 2002 to 2006, Jürg Fedier served as Vice President Finance for Dow Chemical, Performance Chemicals, USA, between 2000 and 2002 as Global Business Finance Director for Dow Chemical, Thermosets. From 1978 to 2000, he filled several management positions with Dow Chemical in the USA and in Asia. Jürg Fedier is Director of the listed Ascom Holding Inc. and OC Oerlikon Corporation AG. He holds a Commercial Diploma from the College of Commerce in Zurich, Switzerland, and completed international executive management programmes at the IMD, Switzerland, and the University of Michigan, USA.

Britt Hendriksen

1973, Danish

Director / Public shareholder’s representative / Member of the Audit Committee

term expires in 2026

Britt Hendriksen was appointed to the Board of Dätwyler Holding Inc. at the 2025 Annual General Meeting. She is a representative of the public shareholders and a member of the Audit Committee. She has extensive experience in the global healthcare industry, an important market for Datwyler. Since June 2025, she has been CFO at Syngenta Crop Protection. Previously she served as Group CFO at Unilabs, a leading provider of diagnostic services. From 2001 to 2023, the Dane held various global management roles at Novartis, including as CFO Global Drug Development and as Regional CFO & Head of Strategy for China, Asia Pacific, Middle East & African Countries. In these roles, she has successfully led various business units and teams in emerging and developed countries through phases of transformation and growth. Britt Hendriksen holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Copenhagen Business School and an Executive MBA from HEC Paris. She has also completed further training in finance and management at Harvard Business School.

Martin Hirzel

1970, Swiss

Director / Public shareholders‘ representative / Member of the Audit Committee

term expires in 2026

Martin Hirzel was appointed to the Board of Dätwyler Holding Inc. at the 2021 Annual General Meeting. He is a representative of the public shareholders and a member of the Audit Committee. As the former CEO of automotive supplier Autoneum, Martin Hirzel has in-depth knowledge of the global automotive industry, an important sales market for Datwyler. He also contributes his many years of experience in China and South America amongst other skills to the Datwyler Board. He has been President of Swissmem, the association of the Swiss mechanical, electrical and metalworking industries, since 2021. He is also Vice-Chairman of Economiesuisse and President of the Economic Advisory Board of the Swiss National Bank. Furthermore, Martin Hirzel is a Director of the listed Bucher Industries AG and four privately held companies. From 2011 to 2019, he was CEO of the listed Autoneum Holding AG. Prior to that, he was a member of the Executive Committee of Rieter Automotive Systems with responsibility for the South America, Middle East and Africa region. From 2000 to 2007 he built up the Chinese business of Rieter Holding AG from Shanghai. Martin Hirzel holds a degree in management and business administration from the Zurich University of Applied Sciences and is a GMP graduate of Harvard Business School.

Dr. Gabi Huber

1956, Swiss

Director / Member of the Audit Committee

term expires in 2026

Gabi Huber was appointed to the Board of Dätwyler Holding Inc. in 2013. She is a member of the Audit Committee. Gabi Huber has been practicing as a self-employed attorney and notary since 1982 and was certified as a mediator in 2006. As PhD in law and former member of the Swiss Parliament, Gabi Huber contributes her experience in law, compliance and governance amongst other skills to the Datwyler Board of Directors. From 2003 to 2015 she represented the canton of Uri in the National Council. From 2008 to 2015 she chaired the FDP Liberal faction of the Swiss Federal Councillors. Prior to her election to the National Council, Gabi Huber served as a member of cantonal government and finance director of canton of Uri from 1996 to 2004. From 2002 to 2004 she headed the government of Uri as chief magistrate (Landammann). She is Vice Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of UBS Switzerland AG and was a Director of Credit Suisse (Switzerland) AG from November 2023 to July 2024. Gabi Huber graduated from the University of Freiburg in 1980, studied law at Columbia University in New York and earned a doctorate in 1990.

Dirk Lambrecht

1960, German/Swiss

Director / Public shareholders‘ representative

term expires in 2026

Dirk Lambrecht was appointed to the Board of Dätwyler Holding Inc. as a representative of the public shareholders at the 2024 Annual General Meeting. As the former CEO of Datwyler (2017 to the end of March 2024), he knows the company’s markets and potential and is very familiar with strategic issues. From 2005 to 2017, he led the Sealing Solutions and Sealing Technologies divisions at Datwyler. Before joining Datwyler, Dirk Lambrecht held various international management positions at Phoenix AG in Hamburg from 1987 to 2005. He is Chairman of Adval Tech Holding AG and of Dätwyler IT Infra AG, a sister company of the listed Dätwyler Holding Inc. He is also a member of the Council of Swissmem, the association of the Swiss mechanical, electrical and metal industries. Dirk Lambrecht holds a degree in mechanical engineering specializing in apparatus engineering from Hamburg University of Applied Sciences and completed additional studies, including programmes at the Management School of St. Gallen.

Former MEMBERS

1964, Dutch

Resignation: March 14, 2024

Judith van Walsum was elected to the Board of Dätwyler Holding Inc. as representative of the public shareholders at the 2022 Annual General Meeting. She is a member of the Audit Committee. Having worked for the Roche Group for many years, she has in-depth knowledge of the global healthcare industry, Datwyler’s largest sales market. She also brings her experience in finance, IT, HR, strategy and business development to the Datwyler Board of Directors. Judith van Walsum has been Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Head of IT at Roche Diabetes Care, a globally operating business unit within the Roche Group since 2018. From 2004 to 2018, the Dutchwoman has held diverse global managerial functions for Roche, among which Head HR Operations (Group HR) and Head of Finance and Intercompany Supply Chain (Roche Diagnostics). From 1999 to 2004, she was Senior Manager in Financial Strategy, Process and Transformation for KPMG in Frankfurt. Judith van Walsum has undergone studies at several universities and has a Ph.D in international political economy at the London School of Economics.

1957, Austrian

Resignation: March 16, 2022

Hanno Ulmer was appointed to the Board of Dätwyler Holding Inc. at the 2015 Annual General Meeting. He is a member of the Audit Committee. From 1994 to 27 September 2019, he was Managing Director of Doppelmayr Holding SE, the parent company of the world’s leading Austrian ropeway manufacturer. Since 27 September 2019, he has been Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of this company. Hanno Ulmer has held various finance and management positions within the Doppelmayr Group since 1976. He is also Chairman of Ropetrans AG and a Supervisory Chairman of Bank für Tirol und Voralberg AG. Hanno Ulmer holds an accounting diploma from WIFI Voralberg and completed university studies in export and international management.

1961, Chinese

Resignation: March 9, 2021

Zhiqiang Zhang was appointed to the Board of Dätwyler Holding Inc. at the Annual General Meeting 2016. The Chinese national works for ABB as Senior Vice President of the group and President of ABB China since 2018. From 2012 until 2018 he had been with the Swedish Sandvik Group and was serving as President of Sandvik China and Regional Holding Officer of APAC. From 2005 to 2012 he was President of Nokia Siemens Networks Greater China Region and from 1999 to 2005 he served as President of Siemens VDO Automotive China. Prior to that, Zhiqiang Zhang supported the development of the Chinese market since 1987 in various management positions at Siemens. Since 2005 he has been a member of the Board of Directors at the listed Georg Fischer Group. Zhiqiang Zhang holds a Bachelor of Sciences of Northern Jiaotong University, Beijing (China) and an MBA of Queen’s University, Kingston (Canada).