From the construction group to the top of the railway
Swiss Federal Railways elected a new Chairman of the Board of Directors at its Annual General Meeting on 29 April 2026. André Wyss, former CEO of Implenia, has big shoes to fill - and brings with him a profile that has never been seen before at SBB. What he plans to do and why his election is more than just a personnel matter.
After twelve years on the Board of Directors, ten of them as Chairwoman, Monika Ribar leaves behind an institution that has changed. The term limit ended her commitment, not her will. Together with her, Vice-Chairman Pierre-Alain Urech, Georg Kasperkovitz and Clara Millard Dereudre are leaving the Board.
A lateral entrant with a system
André Wyss was born in 1967, completed an apprenticeship as a chemical technician, studied economics part-time and furthered his education at Harvard Business School. Before joining Implenia as CEO in 2018, he was responsible for around 40,000 employees at Novartis. He brings 40 years of management experience in the construction, property and pharmaceutical industries to his new role. He has already been a member of the SBB Board of Directors since August 2024, so the handover went smoothly.
Construction meets rail
What seems like an unusual career move at first glance makes sense on closer inspection. SBB is not only a railway operator, it is also one of the largest property owners in Switzerland. Wyss has first-hand knowledge of complex infrastructure projects, sustainable construction and the political framework conditions in Switzerland. This is precisely why the Federal Council saw him as the right candidate.
Stable course, new impetus
Wyss has clearly communicated what he wants: to further develop SBB as the modern and sustainable backbone of Switzerland, focussing on stability and innovation. For its part, SBB is pursuing the goal of being climate-neutral by 2030. This is precisely where Wyss and the new composition of the Board of Directors come in.
Four new members strengthen the Board
Four new members were elected to the Board of Directors at the same time as Wyss: Anna Barbara Remund, Dino Cauzza, Dominique Pierre Locher and Maria-Antonella Bino. They are intended to complement the Board professionally and bring new impetus without changing course. The Board of Directors was constituted directly after the Annual General Meeting in Berne.