swissnet Group Appoints Stefan Gubeli as New Group CEO

swissnet Group, a leading provider of ICT, network, and innovative technology solutions, has announced a significant leadership change. Stefan Gubeli will assume the role of Group CEO effective 1 January 2027, succeeding Jonathan Sauppe. To ensure a smooth transition, a two-month period is planned during which Gubeli and Sauppe will jointly lead the company. Sauppe will step down from his operational role on 1 March 2027 but will remain closely associated with swissnet Group as an advisor and shareholder under a multi-year contractual agreement.

The appointment of Gubeli comes at a pivotal time for swissnet Group as it sets the course for its next phase of development. Together with the existing management team, Gubeli will drive the Group’s strategic and operational development, with a particular focus on further integrating the Group companies and achieving sustainable, profitable growth. This leadership transition is crucial for maintaining continuity and leveraging synergies across the organization, especially as the company continues to expand its specialized AI, computer vision, and automation solutions for industrial and critical infrastructure applications.

Stefan Gubeli brings more than twenty years of leadership experience in building, transforming, and scaling technology companies. Since 2023, he has served as CEO of SCHENK Systeme AG, a provider of cloud-based software and SaaS solutions. Prior to that, from 2013 to 2022, he was Managing Director of BiCA (Schweiz) AG, Managing Director of BiCA (Austria) GmbH, and COO of the BiCA Group, where he had operational responsibility for the Group’s companies across Europe and the United States. During his tenure, he successfully transformed the company from a hardware provider into a cloud-based SaaS provider. In parallel, from 2017 to 2022, he founded and led CiRRUSOFT Inc., his own cloud company in Silicon Valley. Throughout his career, he has been involved in several M&A transactions and has served on the boards of several companies.

“I am very much looking forward to this role and would like to thank the Board of Directors for its trust. swissnet Group and its companies have a strong foundation - together with the management team, I intend to bring them closer together and drive their profitable development,” said Stefan Gubeli, designated Group CEO of swissnet Group.

Jonathan Sauppe, the outgoing Group CEO, expressed confidence in the transition: “With Stefan Gubeli, we have found a strong successor to lead the company. The joint transition period will enable us to hand over responsibilities in a structured manner while ensuring the necessary continuity for our employees, customers, partners and shareholders. I look forward to working closely with Stefan over the coming months and to continuing to support the further development of swissnet Group.”

Urs van Stiphout, Chairman of the Board of Directors, commented, “The Board of Directors is pleased to welcome Stefan Gubeli, an experienced executive, to swissnet Group. At the same time, we would like to thank Jonathan Sauppe for his significant contribution to building the Group and are pleased that he will remain closely associated with swissnet Group as an advisor and shareholder.”

The Board of Directors also expressed its sincere appreciation to Jonathan Sauppe for his exceptional commitment and many years of dedication to swissnet Group. During his time in operational management, he played a key role in shaping the development and transformation of the Group, advanced important strategic initiatives, and made a significant contribution to building swissnet Group into the organization it is today. With great personal commitment and entrepreneurial responsibility, he guided the Group through key phases of its development and laid important foundations for its future.

Following his departure from operational management, Sauppe will remain closely associated with swissnet Group on a long-term basis. Under a multi-year contractual agreement, he will continue to support the company as an advisor, contributing his experience, network, and extensive knowledge of the company. He will also remain a shareholder of swissnet Group. The Board of Directors looks forward to continuing its long-standing collaboration with Sauppe in this new role.

swissnet Group is an international provider of Managed Network, Security, Wi-Fi, UCC, Video, and Digital Experience solutions for enterprises, service providers, and public-sector organizations. With innovative technologies, proprietary platforms, and many years of industry expertise, swissnet supports its customers in the digitalization of their IT, communications, and network infrastructures. In addition, the Group is increasingly developing specialized AI, computer vision, and automation solutions for industrial and critical infrastructure applications.

The leadership change is expected to position swissnet Group for continued success in the competitive technology sector, with Gubeli’s extensive experience in SaaS and cloud transformations likely to drive further innovation and growth. The company’s focus on integration and profitable growth will be key as it seeks to capitalize on emerging opportunities in AI and automation.