Switzerland’s Best Managed Companies
Dynamic times call for strong leadership
Now in its third year, the programme shines a spotlight on Switzerland’s most outstanding private businesses and the exceptional performance that drives them.
Who can apply?
To enter the programme, the companies must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Privately held
- Turnover in excess of CHF 100mio. (not applicable for companies in the health care industry such as biotech, life science, medtech, dentaltech, and suppliers etc.)
- HQ or major decision centre in Switzerland (operations can be abroad)
Compliant from legal, tax and ethical perspective - Have a (financial) track record of at least three years
Could be:
- Privately owned Swiss company
- Swiss portfolio company controlled by private equity firms independent of latter’s domicile
The following organisations are ineligible:
Credit institutions, banks, insurance companies with equity shares traded at a regulated stock exchange at the time of initial acceptance to the programme, Swiss subsidiaries of foreign multinationals, government-owned entities/public sector agencies, charities and not-for-profit organisations and their affiliates and subsidiaries
In doubt, please contact us to support you along the process.
The benefit of being recognised as Best Managed Company
All the benefits of applying, plus more in store for being recognised as one of the Best Managed:
What it's like to become one of Switzerland's Best Managed Companies
How the Best Managed Companies programme works
A three step process to uncover achievements and improvement potentialsThe Best Managed Companies programme aims to find the best managed, privately owned companies in Switzerland. The programme evaluates your company’s management capabilities and practices and recognises overall business performance and growth. This is how the programme works.
What’s so great about being one of the best?
Key benefits
There are obvious benefits to winning any award, but Switzerland’s Best Managed Companies programme offers some unique opportunities.
Valuable insights
Coaching from Deloitte and Julius Baer professionals
Benchmarking
Shine a light on current practices and areas for improvement with detailed feedback report
Foundations for future success
Detailed self-analysis of your business focused on strategic and operational issues
Frequently Asked Questions
Code of Conduct
The Switzerland’s Best Managed Companies programme aims to inspire, celebrate and build a community of private businesses that are creating a better future. A leading business awards programme, recognising excellence in private Swiss-owned companies, it celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit, determination and innovation of the private business community.
The following four commitments illustrate the programme’s core expectations of winning companies:
Our thinking
2025 timeline
Meet the sponsors
Recognising Swiss business excellence
Julius Baer is the leading Swiss wealth management group and a premium brand in this global sector, with a focus on servicing and advising sophisticated private clients. In all we do, we are inspired by our purpose: creating value beyond wealth. At the end of June 2021, assets under management amounted to CHF 486 billion. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd., the renowned Swiss private bank with origins dating back to 1890, is the principal operating company of Julius Baer Group Ltd., whose shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ticker symbol: BAER) and are included in the Swiss Leader Index (SLI), comprising the 30 largest and most liquid Swiss stocks.
SIX Swiss Exchange is a leading European exchange, offering Swiss and international clients a comprehensive range of exchange services - listing, trading and post-trade solutions - from a single source. SIX Swiss Exchange is the third largest stock exchange in Europe in terms of free float market capitalisation and the fourth largest in terms of trading volume. It hosts 3 of the 5 highest capitalised companies in Europe, as well as a broad universe of bonds, ETFs, sponsored funds, ETPs and structured products. With Sparks - the new equity segment for small and medium-sized companies - SIX Swiss Exchange is also the ideal place to list when it comes to growing your SME.
Pitched offers bespoke marketing services for companies, thought leaders & entrepreneurs who are looking to grow quickly and effectively. By supporting new business and product launches with the creation of pitch decks, presentations and branding guidelines, we provide what’s needed to guarantee success. We also help established corporations to optimize their existing marketing and communication strategies with fresh and inspiring content — thus helping them stay ahead of the pack. Our team of experts in our very own downtown Zurich studios provides a long list of services, covering podcast production all the way to personal branding and positioning. At Pitched, we live and breathe our motto: Less nonsense. More substance.
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Meet the jury
Dr. med. Katharina Gasser
Dr. med. Katharina Gasser studied medicine and gained practical experience as a physician in the fields of internal medicine and geriatrics. She then transitioned to the healthcare industry, where she held various leadership positions at several pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in both the Swiss and global contexts over many years. Since September 2022, Dr. med. Katharina Gasser has taken on the role of General Manager at Roche Pharma Switzerland. She is characterised by a strong commitment to digitalisation in healthcare. Additionally, Katharina Gasser holds leadership roles in business associations, including serving as the President of the Zug Chamber of Commerce and as a board member of the Zurich Chamber of Commerce.
Thorsten Hartmann
Thorsten Hartmann has been Branch Manager of Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd. in Basel since 1 February 2022. Prior to that, he worked for over 17 years in various roles at Credit Suisse (AG), most recently as Head of Private Banking (HNWI) in Northwestern Switzerland. Thorsten Hartmann holds a master's degree from the Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU).
Prof. Dr. Thomas Straub
Professor of International Management at the Geneva School of Economics and Management (GSEM), University of Geneva, Switzerland. He is the co-director of the Master of Science in Responsible Management and teaches Corporate Strategy and Change Management. He is a permanent Visiting Professor and Chairman of the International Scientific Committee at the UNESCO department of the University of Bucharest, Romania and is a permanent Visiting Professor at the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL), Switzerland. He leads R&D projects at national and international level (e.g. Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and Swiss Development Agency - SDC).
Tanja Vainio
Tanja Vainio is Country President for Schneider Electric Switzerland and part of Schneider Electric’s DACH executive management team since March 2022. Ms Vainio also serves as Member of the Board of Directors at Franke Group as well as Aspen Organization Central Eastern Europe. Tanja Vainio has more than 20 years’ Industry experience. She joined Schneider Electric from ABB, where she held various local and global leadership roles with increasing responsibility, most recently as Managing Director Business Line Automotive Supply Chain at Robotics & Discrete Automation Business. Ms Vainio holds a Master of Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) & Tampere University of Technology, as well as a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from MIT.
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