For all enquiries related to the management of SIFEM's portfolio or new investment opportunities, please contact Obviam.
Jean-Daniel Gerber
Chairman of the Board, Chairman of the Investment Committee
Jean-Daniel Gerber was Director of the State Secretariat for
Economic Affairs (SECO) with the title of a State Secretary until he retired in
2011. During his career in the service of the Swiss Confederation, Jean-Daniel
Gerber has been active in various areas of responsibility since 1973: in the
trade sector as Swiss representative in the World Trade Organisation (WTO); in
the field of development cooperation as Chief of Section for Developing Countries in the
former Federal Office for Foreign Economic Affairs; in the diplomacy as
Minister and Head of the Economic, Financial and Commercial Office of the Swiss
Embassy in Washington; at the World Bank as Executive Director and Dean of the
Executive Directors of the World Bank Group (1996/97); and as Director of the
Federal Office for Migration (at this time Federal Office (1998-2004).
Jean-Daniel Gerber holds a degree in Economics from the University of Bern. In
2008, Jean-Daniel Gerber was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Faculty of
Economics and Social Sciences of the University of Bern.
Michel Juvet
Vice-Chairman of the Board
Michel Juvet started his career at Bordier & Cie, a Geneva-based private bank, as an analyst and fund manager in 1984. He became head of research and fund management in 1997. In this function, he also became a member of the Executive Board of Bordier & Cie. Michel Juvet is a member of the advisory committee to the Swiss Government on economic development policies. Furthermore, he is a member of the Board of Perrot Duval, a company listed on the Swiss stock exchange SIX.
Julia Balandina Jaquier
Member of the Investment Committee, Member of the Audit Committee
Dr. Balandina Jaquier started her career in 1993 at McKinsey & Co. and subsequently held various senior positions at ABB Financial Services and AIG Investments, where, after co-managing the European direct private equity business, she pioneered and led a USD150 m impact investment fund. She has served on boards of seven companies.
Dr. Balandina Jaquier is a frequent speaker at impact investing conferences and a lecturer at the University of St. Gallen MBA program on responsible/impact investing. She is the author of “Guide to Impact Investing for Family Offices and High Net Worth Individuals.”
Dr. Balandina Jaquier holds an MBA (with honors) and PhD in finance from St. Petersburg University of Economics & Finance, and is a CFA charterholder.
Hugo Fasel
Board Member
Hugo Fasel acts as Director of the Swiss charity Caritas since 2008. He was an elected member of the Swiss National Assembly for four consecutive terms between 1991 and 2008, representing the Christian-Social Party from the Canton of Fribourg. During his time as MP, he acted as member of the Commission for Social Security and Health as well as of the Audit Commission. He also served as President of the Swiss labour union Travail Suisse.
Mr. Fasel studied Economics at the University of Fribourg, and worked there as an academic assistant for some time. He served as lecturer at a number of higher education institutions.
Susanne Grossmann
Member of the Investment Committee
Mrs. Grossmann holds a Master’s Degree in History and Economics from the University of Zurich, Switzerland, and a Post Graduate Degree in European Integration from the University of Basel, Switzerland.
Iain Tulloch
Chairman of the Audit Committee, Member of the Investment Committee
Alison Winzenried
Board Secretary
Alison Winzenried joined SIFEM in August 2011. She is a British national and has lived in Switzerland for over seven years. Previously, her international career took her to a range of countries in Europe and Latin America. Alison graduated in Linguistics & International Studies and holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Business Administration. She is fluent in German and French, and has a good knowledge of Spanish.
As Board Secretary, Alison facilitates the work of SIFEM’s Board of Directors, reporting directly to the Chairman.