Paul Hälg to chair the ETH Foundation’s Board of Trustees
On 1 January 2027, Paul Hälg will take over as President of the ETH Foundation’s Board of Trustees. He succeeds Pius Baschera, who has shaped the Foundation with great dedication since 2014 and made a significant contribution to its successful development.
© Datwyler Group / ETH Foundation/Alessandro Della Bella
© Datwyler Group / ETH Foundation/Alessandro Della Bella
With Paul Hälg, the ETH Foundation gains an experienced leader who has been closely associated with the Foundation for many years. He has been a member of the ETH Foundation’s Board of Trustees since 2017. A chemist with a doctorate and an ETH alumnus, he looks back on a long-standing career in Swiss industry, including as CEO of the Dätwyler Group and as Chair of the Board of Directors of Sika. His experience at the interface of science, technology and business will strengthen the ETH Foundation in its mission to mobilise philanthropic support for outstanding research, teaching and innovation at ETH Zurich.
Recognition of Professor Pius Baschera
The ETH Foundation warmly thanks Pius Baschera for his extraordinary service over the past twelve years. Pius Baschera is one of the defining figures in the Swiss business community and has been closely connected to ETH Zurich for decades. As an ETH alumnus and Professor Emeritus of Corporate Management at the Department of Management, Technology and Economics, he has strengthened the links between academia and business in a special way. As long-standing CEO and later Chair of the Board of Directors of the international technology company Hilti, and through his engagement on various boards of directors and foundation boards, he brought broad entrepreneurial experience and a strong network to his work for the Foundation.
“Pius Baschera has shaped the ETH Foundation with foresight and dedication. His impact will endure far beyond his term of office. I am deeply grateful to him for this,” says Joël Mesot, President of ETH Zurich. Under Pius Baschera’s presidency, the Foundation developed into a key pillar of ETH Zurich. During this time, more than CHF 1.8 billion in funding was raised.
Continuity in the collaboration with ETH Zurich
At the same time, ETH Zurich is preparing for a transition at the top that will also shape the ETH Foundation. ETH President Joël Mesot will step down at the end of 2026 after two terms of office. He will be succeeded on 1 January 2027 by Günther Dissertori, currently Rector of ETH Zurich. In his new role, he will continue the close collaboration between ETH Zurich and the ETH Foundation as Vice President of the ETH Foundation.
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