11.03.2016 - A change in leadership at Axpo Holding AG: Thomas Sieber (53) from the Canton of Glarus was appointed the new Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Annual General Meeting on 11 March 2016. He succeeds Robert Lombardini (66), who is retiring after twelve years. Also newly appointed to the Board is Köbi Frei, Government Councillor of the Canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden.
A new Chairman was appointed at the 15th Annual General Meeting of Axpo Holding AG in Zurich. Thomas Sieber, who was Chairman of the Board of Salt Mobile SA until the end of 2015, is the new Chairman. As a proven manager with international experience in the areas of technology and telecom, Sieber will make important contributions to Axpo during these changing times in the energy sector. „Owing to the changing market environment, it will be crucial to concentrate the focus on the customer in the future. The first step in this direction has already been initiated. I look forward to shaping this development, and actively supporting Axpo on the road to evolving from a pillar of electricity supply in Northeastern Switzerland to an innovative, European energy broker, electricity distributor, and diversified electricity producer.“
Federal Councillor Leuthard attends farewell to Robert Lombardini
Sieber replaces Robert Lombardini, who has been the Chairman of the Board of Axpo since 2004. Federal Councillor Doris Leuthard was in attendance for the farewell to Lombardini during the Annual General Meeting. The milestones of his term as Chairman were the merger of NOK, EGL and CKW under the Axpo brand, the development of the pan-European trading business, the development of the TAP natural gas pipeline, as well as projects in the area of new energies such as the expansion of the Linth Limmern pumped storage plant, participation in the offshore wind park Global Tech I in the North Sea, and the acquisition of Volkswind GmbH, a leading wind park developer and operator in Germany and France. With this commitment, Axpo produces the most renewable energy of all Swiss energy companies, amounting to about 4000 megawatts installed capacity in hydro and wind power.
Köbi Frei (57), Financial Director from the Canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden (AR) replaces Köbi Brunnschweiler, who was appointed to the Board in 2000, and acted as Vice-Chairman from 2011 to 2016. Frei is a member of the SVP party and lives in Heiden. The trained mechanist and businessman has been a Government Councillor since 2003.
No dividends
The Annual General Meeting approved the annual report and the annual financial statements for 2014/15. Although Axpo performed well operatively in the face of a continued, difficult market environment, the operative result was negative: The result for the period was CHF -990 million. Continued, low wholesale prices for electricity and the low euro exchange rate made impairments on the power plant park and energy procurement contracts amounting to net CHF 1.3 billion necessary. As a result, no dividend will be paid.
For the term of office until 2017, the Axpo Holding AG Board of Directors comprises the following members: Thomas Sieber (Chairman), Stäfa; Stephan Attiger, Baden; Dr. Ueli Betschart, Nürensdorf; Dr. Reto Dubach, Schaffhausen; Roland Eberle, Weinfelden; Andreas Frank, Balgach; Köbi Frei, Heiden; Rudolf Hug, Oberrohrdorf (Vice-Chairman); Markus Kägi, Niederglatt; Robert Marti, Riedern; Peter Reinhard, Kloten; Carmen Walker Späh, Zürich; Ernst Werthmüller, Holziken.
Photos available in download section
Thomas Sieber, who holds a business degree (lic. oec. HSG) from the University of St. Gallen, is currently on the board of directors of Sierra Wireless, HCL Technologies, RTX and Garaio AG in addition to his Axpo mandate. From 2009 to 2012 he directed the operative business as the CEO of Orange (today: Salt Mobile AG). Previously, he held international management positions at Fujitsu, and at Hewlett Packard he was the European Director of the SME area. Sieber is married and has two sons.
Corporate Communications