Education
Awarded a CFC
Diploma in Business and Administration in Bienne.
After three years
of study in Berne, he obtained the BKS higher diploma in economics
Holder of a diploma in marketing (Zurich) and of the
diploma of real estate expert of the canton of Bern. ("diplôme
d'expert", an estate agent licence issued by the Council of States).
In 1979, he wrote
a thesis on "Politics in staff management" as part of his Bachelor's
degree in Economics. He has also given many talks abroad.
On 5 October 2004,
Jürg Stäubli was awarded a PhD in Economics from the Cosmopolitan University of
Missouri, USA.
Career
1980 – 1983 :
During the
examinations for the real estate expert diploma in Bern in 1980, one of the
experts,
Dr. oec. T.
Stiffler, hired Jürg Stäubli as Head of Sales at the Bern-based company Stifag,
a leading real estate brokerage and development company in Bern. As part of his
duties, Jürg Stäubli was asked to manage Stifag's sales in Spain and, in 1981,
to open a new branch in Geneva, where he became the director. In 1983, Jürg
Stäubli was appointed to the parent company's board of directors in Berne.
JS Holding 1984 - 1997
In 1984,
In 1984, Jürg Stäubli founded his own company, JS Holding SA, with
headquarters in Geneva and a share capital of 100,000 CHF to start the
business. While developing his group, Jürg Stäubli continued to work privately
in order to regularly increase JS Holding SA's capital.
By 1989,
the share capital—which was fully paid-up—stood
at 50,000,000 CHF. The group was ranked 262nd in the Top 500 Swiss Companies in
1991.
When JS Holding SA
was founded, it was primarily involved in real estate transactions, promotions,
construction and the purchase and sale of real estate.
Since 1986 ,
Jürg Stäubli has
diversified his activities within JS Holding AG, on the one hand by creating
companies in different sectors, and on the other hand by buying companies with
succession or growth problems. JS Holding SA's main industries were:
-
Food product packaging
-
Leisure and sports equipment
-
Construction
-
Manufacturing
Jürg Stäubli created four subholding companies
for each business sector, one of which was in North America. During this
period, Jürg Stäubli created and saved over 1,000 jobs.
In 1989,
Jürg Stäubli sold
a minority stake in JS Holding SA to Banque Cantonale de Genève. The majority
of the bank's share capital is held by public authorities.
In 1990,
Stäubli listed Let
Holding SA—a subholding in the leisure sector—on the Lausanne Stock Exchange
and then on the Geneva Stock Exchange, with Banque Cantonale Vaudoise as the
lead manager in the banking syndicate. Banks with shares in Let Holding SA included
Banque Cantonale Vaudoise, Banque Cantonale de Genève, Crédit Commercial de
France, Banque Landolt Lonfat & Cie in Lausanne and Banque Darier Hentsch
& Cie in Geneva. In the same year, Jürg Stäubli increased the registered
capital of Peralco Construction SA, a subholding in the construction sector,
enabling new minority shareholders to join, such as Banque Cantonale Vaudoise,
Banque Cantonale de Genève and Banque Landolt Lonfat & Cie.
In August 1991,
just two years after it was created, JS Finance Canada Inc. was listed on
the Montreal Stock Exchange as part of a drive to increase equity capital, led
by the real estate broker Lévesque Beaubien & Geoffrian Inc., a subsidiary
of the National Bank of Canada. This lead to an oversubscription of approximately
50% and the arrival of some 400 new shareholders. JS Holding SA nonetheless
maintained its majority interest. Investments in Canada began in 1989, followed
various meetings with the Premier of Quebec Robert Bourassa, who encouraged
Jürg Stäubli to take steps in this direction.
The Canadian division covered four sectors:
The Canadian division covered four sectors:
- Sale of sports equipment through André Lalonde Sport Inc. (approx. 25 stores)
-
Industries Fil Metallique Major
Ltd, a company specializing in the manufacture of industrial meshes
- Hector Jolicoeur Inc., a uniform
cleaning business
- The World Trade Center Quebec project, in partnership with the Quebec authorities. The Canadian side of the business created some 600 jobs. As the main shareholder with a large majority, Jürg Stäubli directed the group.
CF&C Finance Suisse SA
- 1997 to present
In early 1997,
Jürg Stäubli stepped down from managing JS
Holding SA. In summer 1997, JS Holding SA sold the majority of its companies.
In September 1997, Stäubli was appointed to the Board of Directors of CF&C
Finance Suisse SA as Chief Executive Officer and then Chairman. While pursuing
this new line of business, he sold the remaining shares in JS Holding SA and
the business was subsequently dissolved. He remains President of CF&C
Finance Suisse SA, which is focused on:
- Financial restructuring
- Company acquisitions, mergers and
sales
- Management buyouts
- Acquisitions and sales of
minority interests
- Financial engineering and private
investments
- Sales and representation networks
- Special mandates for governments,
such as the renegotiation of external debts
Apart
from third-party mandates, CF&C Finance Suisse SA is a family office
focused on managing the economic interests of the Stäubli family. Today, the
vast majority of CF&C Finance Suisse SA’s activities concern the management
of family assets.
Personal life
Jürg Stäubli is
the only child of a family of shopkeepers. He is married and has five
daughters, Nathalie, Simone, Alessia, Céline and Sarah.
In addition to his native language of German,
Stäubli also speaks and writes in French, English and—with a little less
fluency—Spanish.
Until 1981, he
lived in the Berne region of Switzerland, and then in the region of Geneva from
1981 until 1986. From 1986 to the summer of 1992, he lived in Monaco. In the
summer of 1992, he returned to Switzerland, living in Granges-Paccot in the
canton of Fribourg, then in Prangins from 1994.
Like all male
Swiss citizens, Jürg Stäubli completed mandatory military training and service.
He was discharged from the army due to having his residence abroad. On his
return to Switzerland rejoined the Swiss army and, by 1996, had fulfilled his
military obligations.
Sport
Jürg Stäubli started playing football at the age of 8 and was
a member of the junior team of FC Zollikofen.
At the same time, he obtained his coaching diploma and
coached a “Young Boys” junior team in Bern.
Later, he became a member of the first team
of the Young Boys National A League (equivalent to the 1st division in France).
He ended his
football career playing for FC Gland for three seasons (2nd league).
Jürg Stäubli then became president of Palace-Club de Berne
(Young Boys sponsors association). He was also responsible, together with the
President and the Treasurer of BSC Young Boys, for the transfer of players for
several years.
Jürg Stäubli was also vice-president of FC Grenchen and UGS
Geneva, two clubs in the National League B, within the context of a
collaboration with BSC Young Boys.
For three seasons, beginning in 1987, he was
president of the Geneva Servette Hockey Club.
Stäubli has chaired numerous honorary committees and a
Juniors C (13-year-olds) international football tournament is named after him.
From 1990 to 1996, he owned the Canadian hockey club
“Les Harfangs”.
Today, he
regularly plays tennis and competes in golf tournaments.
Other activities
In addition to his
professional activities, he has multiple functions without being a member of a
political party or movement.
in cultural
associations and foundations including:
- Member of the Committee for the European Centre for Culture
- Treasurer for the Geneva-based
Swiss organ donor foundation "Les As de Coeur"
- Member of the Board of Governors
for the Quebec section of the Red Cross
- Governor of the Metropolitan
Quebec Chamber of Commerce
- Foundation Muses
- Fondation Harfang-Etudes
- Fondation
Reverdir le Sahara www.reverdirlesahara.org
Jürg Stäubli has
been a speaker at many events and debates, notably in the field of economics.
including for example, at the University of Geneva at the graduation ceremony
for undergraduate degrees in economics, at Institut Suisse des Placements de
Capitaux, at the Ecole Supérieure de commerce de Genève for a debate on
"Ethics and Wealth Accumulation" and at the University of Lausanne on
the subject: "Slovenia, conditions for economic success".
Honours
In june 1997,
he was awarded the
title of “Lord of Scalthwaiterigg” in England.
On 27 decembre 1999,
Jürg Stäubli was appointed as “Special
Commissioner” to the “World Development Organization” with diplomatic status
for specific one-off assignments.
On 12 february 2000,
he was made a professor and
visiting lecturer at Moscow University. He taught there for three years.
In april 2000,
Jürg Stäubli
received the Grand Mérite National du Sport award from the Togolese Republic
and was appointed Officer of the Order of Mono (Togolese Legion of Honour).
In october 2004,
he was named a Knight of the Order of Malta and
in January 2005 received a silver medal for his charitable work with the Order.
On 14 January 2010, Stäubli was
awarded an honorary degree from the University of Human Sciences in Bishkek. On
1 April 2011, he was also named Personal Adviser to the Kyrgyzstan Minister of
Justice and on 10 May 2011 Personal Adviser to the Dean of the Arabaev State
University in Birshkek, in a mandate that expired in 2019.
On 18 january 2012
the Government of the Republic of Liberia
appointed Mr. Stäubli, in his capacity as Ambassador-at-large, as
representative for economic matters to the EU.
His letter of credentials was handed over to the EU
Commissioner for Foreign Affairs, Ms. Catherine Asthon, on 21.01.2021.
Jürg Stäubli resigned from this position in November 2020.
On 27 june 2012
Jürg Stäubli was appointed as a member of the
Supervisory Board of the Institute of Banking and Finance of Arabaev State
University, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, for a period of three years.
From 2013 until the end of 2019,
he was elected
Vice-President of the Cercle Diplomatique de Genève.
On 18.4.2013,
Jürg Stäubli was
knighted and subsequently elevated to the rank of Commander of the Order of
Saint-Gabriel.
In 2014, Jürg
Stäubli was appointed as Constable of the Order of Saint-Gabriel and joined the
Grand Magister.
He is also a
member of the Fédération Européenne Diplomatique et Consulaire (FEDC). In
December 2013, he was awarded an honorary degree from the Academy of Public
Administration by the President of the Kyrgyz Republic.
On 20.04.2015
by decree, Jürg Stäubli was appointed Special
Adviser to the President of the National Assembly of the Republic of
Madagascar.
On 29 August 2015
he was awarded the gold medal from the State University of
Arabaev in Bishkek in recognition of his academic achievements and his capacity
as Advisor to the Chancellor of the University. Before him, only two former
prime ministers and the former president of the Kyrgyzstan Republic, Mrs Roza
Otounbaieva, had received this medal.
On 29 September 2015
Jürg Stäubli was awarded the gold medal from
Arabaev State University in Bishtek for his academic achievements in his
capacity as Advisor to the Rector of the University. Before him, only two
former Prime Ministers and the former President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Ms.
Roza Otunbaieva, had received this medal.
On 18.10.2019,
Jürg Stäubli was promoted to the rank of Grand Officer of the
Order of Merit.
In september 2020,
he was decorated
by President R. Kaboré of Burkina Faso as an Officer of the National Order.
On
8 September 2020, he was appointed by His Majesty the King as Honorary Capitain
[Chef Coutumier] of the Kingdom of Comin-Yanga
Philanthropy
In early 2000,
Jürg Stäubli and two Swiss partners financed the new construction and operation
of the "Ampere" school in Lomé, Togo. The school offers some 300 of
the most deprived children in the country access to education.
For several years,
Stäubli has also provided financial support to an orphanage in Bishkek, as well
as many foundations whose work involves helping children and medical research.
The Action Innocence foundation is particularly dear to his heart.
The Petram Foundation, www.petram.foundationof which he is Vice-President and
one of the founders, has assets of
overCHF 40 Millions.
It is a recognized public-interest charity ("reconnue d’utilité
publique") subject to oversight by Switzerland's Federal Department of
Home Affairs The Petram Foundation
supports a viariety of projects in many areas around the world.
www.petram.foundation
Prangins, August 2021