Director leaves the Swiss Media Association

Verena Vonarburg has headed the Swiss Media Association since March 2014 and will leave in spring 2016. The reason for the change at the top of the VSM is a difference of opinion on the objectives and strategic direction of the association's work, particularly since the Announcement of the joint venture SRG/Swisscom/Ringier and the subsequent Exit from Ringier from the association. Vonarburg said in a statement: "In my opinion, the association would do well to look more closely for allies and to be constructive and innovative in favor of Switzerland as a media center. I would like to specifically exclude President Hanspeter Lebrument, who has supported me at all times and with the greatest commitment."

Lebrument returns the positive words to Werbewoche.ch: "I worked well with Director Vonarburg. The reason for the termination lies in the differing views of the Presidium and the Directorate on the planned advertising alliance." Andreas Häuptli is heading the office on an interim basis. He has been with the association since 2014 and is responsible for marketing.

Vonarburg will move to Ringier in spring 2016. She will take on the new position of Head of Public Affairs Ringier Group, reporting directly to Ringier's Group Executive Board. She reports directly to CEO Marc Walder. Walder: "I am very pleased about the appointment of Verena Vonarburg. She is a proven public affairs expert with an excellent network and will be able to provide Ringier with active support both at the national level and in the context of our international activities."

The big publishing houses have repeatedly poached management staff from the association, association president Lebrument told Werbewoche. As examples, he cites former managing directors Peter Hartmeier and Hanspeter Kellermüller, who moved to Tages-Anzeiger and NZZ, respectively. "The association seems to have good people in management, otherwise the major Zurich publishers wouldn't keep poaching them from us," Lebrument smiles. Even if Lebrument does not deny that Vonarburg's move to Ringier, which has left the association, is somewhat explosive.

Vonarburg studied history, constitutional and international law, and political science at the University of Bern. She gained journalistic experience as a reporter and editor of the news magazine "10 vor 10" on Swiss television and as SRF Federal House Editor. From 2002, she held several journalistic positions, mainly as Federal House Editor, at Tages-Anzeiger and finally worked as Senior Consultant with a focus on political consulting and communication at the Bern-based public affairs and communications agency Furrer Hugi & Partner from 2011 to 2014. (hae)