CEO Franz-Xaver Simmen to leave Andermatt Swiss Alps (ASA) in spring 2019. First development phase is completed.
CEO Franz-Xaver Simmen has decided to leave the company in spring 2019 and accept an executive management position in the Schindler Group.
Under the leadership of Franz-Xaver Simmen, trained as a structural engineer, Andermatt Swiss Alps developed greatly over the past three and a half years. The Andermatt-Sedrun ski area link was completed and joint marketing was established with Bergbahnen Disentis. In “Andermatt Reuss”, the Radisson Blu Reussen, with 190 rooms, and the Gotthard Residences, with 100 apartments, as well as nine apartment buildings with 129 holiday apartments were opened. Around the newly built “Piazza Gottardo”, shops, restaurants and the swimming pool were completed. In addition, construction is at an advanced stage for the concert hall (opening spring 2019) and Andermatt Central, the new public transportation hub.
"Now that the key development goals have been achieved, the time has come for a change of leadership," explains Franz-Xaver Simmen. Majority shareholder Samih Sawiris recognises his contribution: "Andermatt Swiss Alps developed enormously under leadership of Franz-Xaver Simmen. Andermatt is back on the tourism map and the infrastructure for the year-round destination is now in place. I am sincerely grateful to him and the whole team for the great effort, and I wish him all the best in his new endeavour.”
Samih Sawiris, who owns 51% of Andermatt Swiss Alps AG, and the management of ODH, which owns 49% of ASA, are now jointly preparing the next development phase of Andermatt Swiss Alps. "ASA now possesses the critical size and broad range of high-quality attractions that a destination needs in order to be successfully marketed internationally. This is clearly evidenced by the growing demand for real estate during the recent months. Together, we will now tackle the second development phase of Andermatt Swiss Alps," emphasizes ODH CEO Khaled Bichara.
Factbox
Andermatt Swiss Alps AG
From vision to destination: During the past several years, Andermatt has developed into a popular year-round holiday resort with numerous attractive features: apartment buildings, hotels and chalets, a Scottish-style 18-hole golf course that offers golfers a welcome challenge, and the SkiArena, not only one of the most modern ski regions in Switzerland but also the largest in Central Switzerland, with pistes from Andermatt to Sedrun and Disentis. With its perfect blend of alpine simplicity and urban sophistication, the five-star deluxe hotel The Chedi Andermatt exudes a special magic, as does the Radisson Blu Hotel Reussen, with its public indoor pool and wellness-and-fitness area. More apartment buildings and hotels will be built in the forthcoming years.
