Unlocking potential, driving success - Empower your business with our expertise in strategic management. Get to know the core team leading Swiss Steel Group. Our Executive Board, composed of the CEO, CFO, and Division Heads, plays a central role in guiding the company's strategic decisions and overseeing day-to-day operations.
Frank Koch has been Chief Executive Officer of Swiss Steel Group since July 1, 2021. Frank Koch began his career in 1991 with an apprenticeship in industrial general administration in the steel division of ThyssenKrupp. He then held various management positions in the ThyssenKrupp Group, before taking on responsibility for strategy and sales at leading Italian steel producer Danieli from 2003 to 2005. In 2005 he changed to Deutsche Edelstahlwerke, where he was responsible for sales and strategy until the beginning of 2008, when he joined the long-established German steel producer GMH Group (Georgsmarienhütte). Frank Koch held various functions within the Group, such as Chief Sales Officer and Head of Logistics, until he was appointed COO of the entire GMH Group and joined the Executive Board as Managing Director. Finally, before joining Swiss Steel Group, Frank Koch successfully led and restructured GMH as CEO from 2017 until the end of December 2020.
Marco Portmann has been Chief Financial Officer of Swiss Steel Group since April 1, 2022. Marco Portmann has spent the majority of his career within Swiss Steel Group, working at the Swiss production site of Steeltec AG in various positions for ten years, most recently as Head of Accounting & Cash Management. Following a brief period of employment outside the Group, he then served in various senior finance positions at the corporate level for another six years. Prior to his position as Chief Financial Officer, Marco Portmann was Vice President Corporate Accounting, Controlling, Tax and Risk Management at Swiss Steel Holding AG. Marco Portmann is a Swiss Chartered Expert in Financial and Managerial Accounting and Reporting.
Florian Geiger (Dr. rer. pol., CH and DE, 1980) has held various management positions at Swiss Steel Group. He joined Swiss Steel Group in 2013 as Vice President Business Development, where he was responsible for Group-wide strategic projects and M&A. In January 2020 he was appointed CEO of Steeltec and has been CEO of the Steeltec Business Unit with production units in Switzerland, Germany, Scandinavia and Turkey since January 2020. As of January 2022 Florian Geiger has been a member of the Executive Board of Swiss Steel Group as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) for Quality and Engineering Steels. Florian Geiger holds a PhD degree in business administration and began his career at Roland Berger Strategy Consultants, focusing on corporate restructuring and corporate performance.
Patrick Lamarque d'Arrouzat (MBA) has been CEO of Ugitech, which has several sites in France, Germany and Italy, since September 2008. Since January 2022 Patrick Lamarque has been a member of the Executive Committee of Swiss Steel Group as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) for Stainless Steels and since February 2023 for Tool Steel. Patrick Lamarque d’Arrouzat holds a Master of Business Administration from INSEEC Business School in France and graduated from Skidmore College in the USA. He started his career in 1990 with various management positions for Arcelor group in Italy (Uginox), France (Ugine-Savoie) and Spain (Ugitech Iberica).
It is all the more important we continue to focus on creating a resilient Swiss Steel Group.
Introducing the guardians of Swiss Steel Group's strategic vision and governance. Learn about the influential individuals who make up our board of directors, shaping the direction and policies of our organization.
Jens Alder served as Executive Chairman of Alpiq Holding Ltd. in Lausanne, Switzerland, from 2019, and was Chairman of its Board of Directors from 2015 until the end of 2021. Between 2009 and 2018 he was a Board member of several companies, including CA, Inc., New York, USA, from which positions he largely resigned after joining Alpiq. Over the past decade, Jens Alder has served as Chairman of various companies including Goldbach Group AG, Küsnacht, Switzerland, Sanitas Health Insurances, Zurich, Switzerland, BG Ingénieurs Conseils, Lausanne, Switzerland, and Industrielle Werke Basel, Switzerland. From 2006 to 2008 he was CEO of TDC A/S in Copenhagen, Denmark. From 1999 to 2006 he was CEO of Swisscom AG, based in Berne, Switzerland. Jens Alder previously held management positions at Swisscom, Alcatel Switzerland, Motor-Columbus, Alcatel STR and Standard Telephon & Radio. Jens Alder is currently Chairman of the Board of CoIVisTex AG, Berlin, and member of the Board of Scope Content AG, Zürich. Jens Alder holds a Master of Science (MSc) in Electrical Engineering from ETH Zurich, Switzerland, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from INSEAD, Fontainebleau, France.
David Metzger is an investment professional currently with Liwet Holding AG, and earlier held similar positions at RMAG and Venetos Management AG. Previously, he was investment director at renewable energy fund Good Energies AG (now Bregal Energy, part of COFRA Holding), and before that senior manager at Bain & Company. Currently, David Metzger is serving as a member of the Board of Directors of Sulzer AG and of Medmix AG. From 2014 to 2023, he was a member of the Board of Directors of Italian Octo Telematics SpA, from 2016 to 2021 he was a member of the Board of Directors of OC Oerlikon, and from 2008 to 2009 from Norwegian Solar Energy Company Norsun. David Metzger holds a master’s degree in business economics (lic.oec.) from the University of Zurich and a Master of Business Administration from INSEAD.
Mario Rossi was CFO of Swisscom AG from 2013 until 2021, where he held various senior finance positions from 1998. Mario Rossi was Chairman of the Board of Directors of Cablex AG until January 2022. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. and the Hasler Foundation, as well as a member of the Sanction Commission of the Swiss Stock Exchange and member of Takeover Committee. Mario Rossi is a certified public accountant of the Swiss Academy for Audit.
Dr. Michael Schwarzkopf has been Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Plansee Group, Reutte (AT) since 2017. At Plansee, he was a member of the Executive Board from 1993 to 2017, serving as its Chairman from 1996 to 2017. Before joining the Plansee Group, he was Managing Director of Sintermex S.A. de C.V. in Quéreatro (MX) from 1991 to 1993. After completing a trainee program at Thyssen AG in Düsseldorf (DE) in 1989, he moved to Sinterstahl GmbH in Füssen (DE), where he worked as Manager Corporate Development from 1989 to 1991. His Board of Directors mandates included voestalpine AG, Linz (AT) from 2004 to 2018, Molibdenos y Metales S.A. from 2011 to 2018, Molyporc Inc. from 2013 to 2015, and Mayr-Melnhof Karton AG, Vienna (AT) from 2009 to 2019. He is currently member of the Advisory Board of Künz Holding GmbH. Dr. Michael Schwarzkopf holds a degree in mechanical engineering from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETHZ) as well as a PhD in materials sciences from the University of Leoben.
Emese Weissenbacher has been CFO at Mann + Hummel International GmbH & Co KG in Germany since 2015. Since 1994 she has held management responsibilities at the company in the financial area of the holding as well as in the operational business. Ernese Weissenbacher is currently a member of the Board of Directors at Kongsberg Automotive Holding ASA and a member of the Advisory Board of Kreissparkasse Ludwigsburg. As of September 28, 2022, Emese Weissenbacher was appointed as a new member of the Supervisory Board of Horváth AG, the holding company of the international management consultancy of the same name. Emese Weissenbacher holds a Master's degree in Economics, Controlling & Business Development from the University of Stuttgart and a degree in Advanced Management from Harvard Business School, Boston.
Alexander Gut is a financial expert with extensive experience obtained from numerous Board of Directors positions. He is currently the Managing Partner and founder of Gut Corporate Finance Ltd, an independent corporate finance advisory firm. Prior to this role, he held significant positions as a Member of the Executive Board at KPMG Zurich and as a Partner at Ernst & Young Zurich. His career began with KPMG in Zurich and London. Alexander Gut has served on the Board of Directors of renowned companies such as Holcim and Credit Suisse Group. He currently holds a position on the Board of Directors of The Adecco Group. Alexander Gut holds a PhD (Dr oec publ) in Business Administration from the University of Zurich, Switzerland.
Karl Haider is a recognized industrial expert and highly qualified executive with comprehensive experience from working at major international industrial groups. As the current Chief Executive Officer of Semperit Holding AG in Austria, he brings extensive experience and strategic acumen. Previously, Karl served on the Executive Board at Tata Steel Europe as the Chief Commercial Officer and Director Operations Downstream, and before he served on the Executive Board at high performance metals division of the voestalpine Group as the Chief Commercial Officer. His journey began as a sales manager for Rehau, where he honed his sales expertise. Karl Haider holds a PhD in Natural Science, as well as a Master’s Degree in Technical Chemistry and Business Economics, both from the Johannes Kepler University of Linz in Austria.
Martin Lindqvist is an accomplished industrial professional and financial expert with over 25 years of experience in the steel industry. Martin Lindqvist has resigned as the President and CEO of SSAB. He spearheaded SSAB’s policy decision to transition the entire Nordic production system to fossil-free production. During his years at SSAB, Martin Lindqvist held various Head of Business Area positions. Prior to his tenure at SSAB, he held key roles at renowned companies such as NCC and Outokumpu Copper Strip. Currently, Martin Lindqvist serves on the Board of Directors of SCA, Europe’s largest private forest holding. He has also previously served on the board of INDUTRADE. Martin Lindqvist holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of Uppsala in Sweden.