Board of Directors

Education

Dr. sc. techn., ETH Zurich

Career

2004–2016: CEO, Dätwyler Group, Altdorf

2001–2004: Executive Vice President, Forbo International SA, Eglisau

1987–2001: Product Manager, Commercial Director, CEO, Gurit Essex AG, Freienbach

1981–1986: Project and Group Leader, Schweizerische Aluminium AG (Alusuisse), Zurich

Mandates in listed companies:

Chair of the Board: Datwyler Holding AG (and therefore also of PEMA AG and Dätwyler Führungs AG), Altdorf

Mandates in non-listed companies and organizations:

Member of the Board: Sonceboz Automotive SA, Sonceboz
Chair of the Board: Welfare Foundation Sika, Baar
Member of the Foundation Council: ETH Foundation (supports education and research at ETH), Zurich; Swisscontact (Swiss foundation promoting economic, social and ecological development in emerging economies), Zurich; REGA (non-profit Swiss air-rescue service), Zurich

Key Strengths and Experience:

Paul Hälg brings with him extensive industry and strategic leadership experience based on more than 30 years in management positions at large industrial companies - among them 12 years as CEO of the Datwyler Group, a company focusing on system-critical elastomer components with sales in over 100 countries. He holds a PhD in chemistry and has specific know-how in adhesives technologies as well as a deep understanding of chemical innovation. This expertise together with his longstanding engagement as a Foundation Council Member of Swisscontact, a Swiss foundation with the purpose to promote an inclusive economic, social and ecological development in developing and emerging economies, also provide him with the right knowledge to oversee and drive Sika’s performance in the area of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG).    

Education

MSc Chemical Engineer, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH); M.A. Economics, University of St. Gallen (HSG)

Career

2007-2018: CFO Barry Callebaut Group, Zurich, Switzerland

1996-2006: Director of Niantic Group (Family Holding)

1991-1995: Principal, Adinvest AG, Zurich, Switzerland

1989-1991: Head Corporate Finance, Marc Rich & Co Holding AG, Zug, Switzerland

1985-1989: Financial Analyst and Manager, EniChem International AG, Zurich, Switzerland, and Milan, Italy

Mandates in listed companies:

Member of the Board: Givaudan AG, Vernier (Member of Compensation Committee and Chair of Audit Committee); Medacta International SA, Castel San Pietro (Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee); KWS Saat SE & Co. KGaA, Einbeck, Germany (Chair of the Audit Committee)

Mandates in non-listed companies and organizations:

Member of the Board: Swiss Federal Audit Oversight Authority (RAB), Bern; Hemro AG, Bachenbülach; Louis Dreyfus Holding BV, Amsterdam, Netherlands (Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee)

Key Strengths and Experience:

Viktor W. Balli brings a wealth of financial and management experience, including his more than 10-year tenure as a CFO for the Barry Callebaut Group, a global manufacturer of chocolate and cocoa products with sales activities in more than 140 countries. In addition to his managerial experience in globally active companies, holding master’s degrees both in chemical engineering (ETH) and in economics (HSG), he brings with him extensive knowledge in two highly relevant areas for Sika’s strategic development.

Education

LL.B and B.C.L, McGill University, Canada

Career

Since 2010: Senior Investment Manager, BMGI, Kirkland, WA, USA

2007-2009: Vice President, Investment Banking, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, New York, NY, USA

2003-2007: Associate, Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, New York, NY, USA

Mandates in listed companies: 

Member of the Board: Canadian National Railway Company, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Mandates in non-listed companies and organizations: 

Member of the Board: OE Holdings, LLC, Texas, USA

Key Strengths and Experience:

Justin M. Howell is a senior investment professional and brings with him in-depth knowledge of international financial and capital markets, private and public equity, corporate governance and law. With his extensive international experience in corporate finance and M&A and with his wide network across industries, he significantly contributes to Sika’s continuous strategic development. With over 10 years of experience working for a large asset owner with a strong focus on sustainable, long-term investment, he possesses a broad expertise in the areas of sustainability, modern governance principles and strategy-aligned compensation models. Further this experience and know how makes him well-suited to chair the Nomination and Compensation Committee.  

Education

lic. oec. University of St. Gallen (HSG)

Career

2006–2013: CEO, Panalpina AG, Basel

2005–2006: CFO, Panalpina AG, Basel

2000–2005: Chief Information Officer (CIO), Panalpina AG, Basel

1991–2000: various functions within Controlling, IT and Global Project Management, Panalpina AG, Basel

Mandates in non-listed companies and organizations:

Chair of the Board: SBB AG (Swiss Federal Railways), Bern
Member of the Board: Chain IQ Group, Zurich

Key Strengths and Experience:

As a former CEO of the global transport and logistics company Panalpina, Monika Ribar brings with her a wide experience in business, operational and strategic leadership. In addition to her deep knowledge of international transportation and logistics, she possesses a broad expertise in financial management and IT. With her extensive experience as Board member in companies from various sectors and her management background as CEO, CFO, and CIO, she enhances the Board expertise and, in particular with her well-founded finance and risk management know-how, possesses the relevant skills to chair the Audit Committee.

Education

Swiss-certified Banking Specialist, Swiss Banking School

Career

1994–2001: CEO and Delegate of Board of Directors, Xstrata AG, Zug

1983–1998: Senior Partner and CFO, Glencore International AG, Baar

1976–1983: various banks, incl. Bank Leu, Zurich

Mandates in non-listed companies and organizations:

Chair of the Board: Trinsic AG, Zug; Tabulum AG, Zug; Hadimec AG, Mägenwil

Member of the Board: ARAS Holding AG, Lenzburg; AS Print AG, Villmergen; Richnerstutz AG, Villmergen

Key Strengths and Experience:

With more than 20 years of experience in senior management positions as CFO and CEO at a multinational commodity trading company and a natural resource group, Daniel J. Sauter offers extensive and valuable international leadership experience, coupled with a profound knowledge of strategic management. Since 2000, he has served as a non-executive director on number of listed companies, most notably as the Chairman of Julius Baer Group, Zurich. His solid financial, strategic and governance expertise has benefitted both the Board and the Company at large. 

Education

MBA, Graduate School of Business Administration, University of Washington/Zurich

Career

2017-2021: Chief Executive Officer, Sika AG, Baar

1988-2017: various functions within Sika:
Regional Manager EMEA, Sika AG, Baar
Regional Manager North America, General Manager Sika USA, Lyndhurst, USA
General Manager Sika Germany, Stuttgart, Germany
Product Manager / Head of Sales Industry, Marketing Manager Industry, Business Unit Leader Industry

1982-1988: International Key Account Sales Manager Switzerland, EMS Chemie AG, Switzerland

1980-1982: Project Manager Air Condition Plants, Luwa AG, Hong Kong, China

1976-1980: Production Manager, Hemair AG, Switzerland

Mandates in non-listed companies and organizations:

Member of the Board: Swisspearl Group AG, Switzerland
Member of the Advisory Council: Peri GmbH, Germany

Key Strengths and Experience:

With his extensive knowledge of the markets Sika operates in, as well as of its products, technologies, and its corporate culture, Paul Schuler contributes with highly relevant expertise to the Board. He has played a key role in developing and executing Sika's successful growth strategy and has a profound understanding of Sika’s values and global, empowered organization. After having held various management positions in the industry for more than 40 years, Paul brings with him a wealth of experience in international leadership, M&A, strategic management, and talent development.

Education

Dipl. El. Ing. EPFL

Career

Since 2004: CEO, Sefar Holding AG, Thal SG

1998–2004: Head of Industry Division and Member of Group Management, Sika AG, Baar

1994–1998: Adtranz Schweiz

1988–1994: McKinsey & Company, Zurich

Mandates in listed companies:

Member of Regional Advisory Board: Swiss National Bank

Mandates in non-listed companies and organizations:

Member of the Board: Sefar Holding AG, Thal SG

Key Strengths and Experience:

Christoph Tobler brings with him a wealth of experience in technology, operations, and strategy having worked in top management positions at industrial companies for more than 25 years. Since 2004, he is the CEO of the global technology company Sefar, a leading manufacturer of precision fabric for a wide variety of industries. With his engineering background, a UC Berkeley MBA, and work experience in global management consulting, he contributes with important technical, industrial, management and financial expertise.

Education

MSc Chemical Engineer, University of Gent, Belgium

Career

since 2017: CEO, AkzoNobel, Amsterdam, Netherlands

2016-2017: Head Specialty Chemicals and Executive Committee Member, AkzoNobel, Amsterdam, Netherlands

2015-2016: President Fluoroproducts, Chemours; President Chemours EMEA, Geneva, Switzerland, and Wilmington, USA

1989-2016: various functions within DuPont:
Vice President DuPont Performance Coatings EMEA, Cologne, Germany
Global Business & Marketing Director Fluorochemicals, DuPont, Wilmington, USA

Mandates in non-listed companies and organizations:

Member of the Board: Aliaxis Group NV, Brussels, Belgium

Key Strengths and Experience:

Having held various management positions in the chemical sector for more than 30 years, Thierry F. J. Vanlancker brings with him extensive global and industry experience. He possesses in-depth knowledge of strategy, M&A, product development, sales and marketing with specific know-how in chemicals markets. He holds the position as CEO of AkzoNobel, a large international paints and coatings company active in more than 150 countries, and contributes with strong expertise about the management of large international companies and the management of channels to market.