Strengthening Partnerships Association for Business Succession

(CONNECT) At the members' meeting of the Swiss Umbrella Association for Corporate Succession(CHDU) on September 3, the focus was on old and new partnerships that are intended to position the topic of succession even more strongly in Switzerland. Hans Jürg Domenig saw the past and first year of his presidency as a year of building bridges. The CHDU met on the premises of the Zurich training center EXPERTsuisse, which is already an established partner for seminars. Managing Director Dorit Schmidt-Purrmann also emphasized: "We have gained new sponsors and association cooperation partners."

New ties were forged with the Bern-based innovation agency be-advanced, the print and media industry association dpsuisse, the Swiss SME Association and the Business Succession Center Germany (UNZD). The CHDU has long been supported by the Canton of Zurich, with the aim of having an impact far beyond the region. According to CHDU CFO Reto Schoch, regional expansion into the cantons of Bern and Basel-Landschaft, for example, is now one of the priorities for the coming period.

A new sponsor is Renaissance, Switzerland's only investment foundation for the financing of unlisted SMEs. Renaissance supports the CHDU's most important annual event with the presentation of the Phoenix Award. Together with Swiss Life Wealth Managers, a new series of After-Work-Impulse events focusing on retirement and wealth planning has been launched; the third event of this kind will take place on September 24 in Basel. "The events are well attended, we seem to have hit a nerve," said Schmidt-Purrmann. This hope is also linked to the new format of the Swiss M&A Forum, which will premiere on May 7, 2026 at the Volkshaus Zurich. The managing director explained: "The aim is to create a platform that connects the M&A scene with people who want to sell a company."

Under the moderation of CHDU Vice President Carla Kaufmann, female entrepreneurs discussed different approaches to successful company succession in the second part. Anita and Svenja Stebler are mother and daughter and hold management positions at stebler glashaus AG in Oensingen SO. They reported on the precautions they have taken to ensure a smooth transition. They also highlighted the conditions under which gender-balanced management can work in the male-dominated metalworking industry. Carmen Alvarez and Nadine Zdych, who took over the Alemania Deutschschule AG in Zurich four years ago, represented a different successor model. Both are from outside the field, but have many years of experience in finance and business development - in 2026 they will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the language school with locations in Zurich, Bern and Lucerne. ce/yvh