Andreas Schönenberger, CEO of Sanitas Health Insurance, is a new member of the Board of Directors of the investment promotion agency Greater Zurich Area Ltd (GZA). The accession of the Cham Group real estate company and the flexible workspace provider IWG to the public-private ownership of GZA will further strengthen the marketing of the Greater Zurich Area abroad.

The Foundation Board has elected Dr. Andreas Schönenberger as a new member of the Board of Directors of GZA as of 1 July. The 55-year-old physicist (ETH Zurich) is CEO of Sanitas Health Insurance and a member of the Board of Directors of Ascom and the Swiss Automotive Group. Previous positions include CEO and board member of Salt Mobile, CEO and founder of atSpeed and country head of Google Switzerland. With the appointment of Andreas Schönenberger, GZA is further strengthening its competences in the areas of technology, digital transformation, international expansion and marketing. Andreas Schönenberger succeeds Marc Bernegger, who is stepping down from the Board of Directors after five and a half years.

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Andreas Schönenberger, Greater Zurich Area Ltd
Andreas Schönenberger
Member of the Board of Directors, Greater Zurich Area Ltd (GZA)

The accession of the Cham Group and IWG to the Greater Zurich Area Foundation is strengthening the successful model of public-private partnership and the marketing of the Zurich economic region abroad.

New area with room for a thousand jobs

The Cham Group real estate company focuses on the development of the Papieri site in the centre of Cham on Lake Zug. A new quarter with around 1,000 apartments and around 1,000 new jobs is being created in stages on the eleven-hectare former paper factory site. The Papieri site thus offers space for the settlement of service and commercial companies seeking proximity to attractive residential and leisure facilities. "The conversion of characteristic existing buildings supplemented by striking new buildings, a project realisation under sustainable aspects as well as an exciting mix of apartments, working areas and public-oriented use make the Papieri-Areal a place with a high quality of life and a supra-regional appeal", explains Andreas Friederich, CEO of Cham Group AG. "In this way, we are making a contribution to strengthening the attractiveness of the Greater Zurich Area economic region".

Flexible jobs can contribute to the company's success

The International Workplace Group (IWG) is the world's leading provider of flexible workplaces (co-working spaces, etc.). With the brands Regus, SPACES, HQ, No18, Open Office, Basepoint and Signature by Regus, IWG operates more than 3,300 locations in 120 countries worldwide, enabling more than 2.5 million customers to concentrate on their main tasks every day and experience a "great day at work". Co-working and flexible workplace strategies can make a significant contribution to a company's success. "The Zurich region is extremely relevant for IWG - we have a strong presence in the Zurich area with our Spaces and Regus brands and around 15 locations," says Garry Gürtler, Managing Director of IWG Switzerland. "That's why location marketing of the region is also very important to us and we are pleased to support Greater Zurich Area AG as a partner. In doing so, we are making a contribution to strengthening the attractiveness of the Greater Zurich Area". IWG operates almost 50 locations throughout Switzerland.

 

The full version of the press release is available in German.

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