Profile

Marie-Noëlle Zen-Ruffinen specializes in corporate and commercial law and is a recognized expert in corporate governance. She also regularly advises on early termination of commercial contracts. She is part-time Professor at the University of Geneva, School of Economics and Management, and co-founded the Swiss Board Institute. She is also a non-executive member of the board of directors of several listed and non-listed companies. She is the author/co-author of numerous publications, including the reference book Le Conseil d’administration and is regularly invited as a speaker on corporate governance matters.

Experience

Marie-Noëlle Zen-Ruffinen has extensive knowledge and experience in corporate law and corporate governance. Recent experience includes in particular the review, as a member of an expert panel, of the governance of a large group (circa 100’000 FTE), the setting up of a family governance, the review of the remuneration structure and policy and the employment contracts for members of the management.

2016 Finance for Senior Executives, Harvard Business School
2008 Swiss Advanced Certificate in Trust Management, Geneva
2007 PhD in Law (Dr. iur.), University of Fribourg, summa cum laude
2002 Admitted to the Bar, Attorney-at-law
2000 Master of Law (lic. Iur.), University of Fribourg, summa cum laude
1999 Master of Arts (lic. phil.), Philosophy (Ethics), University of Fribourg, summa cum laude
2023 Of Counsel, Niederer Kraft Frey, Geneva
2022 Vice-Chair of the Swiss Board Institute
2020 Member of the Board of Directors of Ina Invest Holding AG (Chair of the nomination and compensation committee, Member of the investment committee)
2020 Member of the Panel of Experts of SWIPRA Services, Zürich
2020 Vice-Chair of the Patronage Committee of the Barry Foundation, Martigny
2019 Member of the Jury of the Women’s Board Award, Switzerland, Zürich
2018 Member of the Board of Directors of Banco Santander International SA (Vice-Chair since 2021, Member of the audit and risk committee and Member of the compensation committee)
2016 Member of the Board of Directors of the Baloise Group (Member of the strategy and governance committee and Vice-Chair of the audit committee)
2015 Member of the Board of Management of the Swiss Institute of Directors, St. Gallen
2014-2021 Chair of the Swiss Board Institute (Vice-Chair 2011-2013, Co-founder 2011)
2012-2022 Of Counsel, Swiss law firm, Geneva
2009 Professor of Corporate Law and Competition Law, School of Economics and Management, University of Geneva
2008-2012 Partner, Swiss law firm, Geneva

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