The number of foreigners in top positions in Swiss companies has either dropped or remained stable for the first time in four years, a study has found.
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The only exception are companies on the Swiss stock exchange – Switzerland’s leading firms – which still favour German or Americans in charge.
According to the Zurich-based report, by Guido Schilling personnel consultants, the 121 largest companies in the country have 44 per cent foreigners in key management. This stood at 45 per cent last year.
In the stock exchange companies, 62 per cent had foreign top managers compared with 65 per cent in 2009.
The number of foreign CEOs had remained stable over 2010 and 2009 at 45 per cent. But looking at the 20 Swiss Stock Exchange companies, a rather different picture emerged: 70 per cent now have a CEOs from abroad compared with 55 per cent in 2009.
The most popular nations are Germany (a quarter of CEOs) and the United States (a fifth). The British are also well represented in top management positions. Asia is providing an increasing number of executives as well.
Germans are playing a “key role” in the Swiss economy because they are also frequently board members, added the report, which is in its fifth year.
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