Johann Schneider-Ammann
Johann Niklaus Schneider-Ammann is a Swiss businessman and a politician. Schneider-Ammann is married, has two children, and lives in Langenthal, Canton of Bern, Switzerland.
The son of a veterinarian born in Sumiswald, Switzerland, Schneider-Ammann graduated as an electrical engineer from the ETH Zürich in 1977, and obtained a Master of Business Administration from INSEAD in France in 1983.
From 1990 to 2010, Schneider-Ammann acted as the head of his family's mechanical engineering company, Ammann Group, in the 4th generation, when he passed control over the company to his two children.Political career
In 1999, Schneider-Ammann was elected to the Swiss National Council, and is a member of the Free Democratic Party.
From 1999, Schneider-Ammann chaired the corporate union Swissmem. Schneider-Ammann was elected to the National Council in 1999, and re-elected in 2003 and 2007.
In the context of the 2008 financial crisis, Schneider-Ammann took a critical stance on bonuses awarded to the finance industry.
In 2008, Schneider-Ammann's company moved substantial funds to a tax haven in Jersey.
On 22 September 2010, Schneider-Ammann was elected to the Swiss Federal Council as the successor to Hans-Rudolf Merz. He became the head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research, the Swiss commerce minister, taking office on 1 November 2010. Schneider-Ammann had previously announced his intention to step down from his corporate responsibilities as well as various board memberships if elected.Other activities
