Thales in Switzerland and Austria: Matthias Zoller becomes Vice President and Country Director

From 1 January 2027, Matthias Zoller will head Thales in Austria and Switzerland. As Vice President and Country Director, the technology group is entrusting him with responsibility for its business in both countries. To take up the role, Zoller is leaving Swissmem, the Swiss industry association where he has so far been Secretary General of SWISS ASD, at the end of the year.

Most recently, Zoller led SWISS ASD, an industry sector under the umbrella of Swissmem, as Secretary General for several years – and was thus a central voice of the Swiss aerospace and defence industry. During this time, the sector expanded its international networks, and SWISS ASD gained weight within the association.

Adrian Vogel, Head of Industry Sectors and member of the executive board at Swissmem, particularly praises how Zoller developed the association:

Matthias took over SWISS ASD at a difficult time and expanded it vigorously. He succeeded in sharpening the profile of SWISS ASD and making the industry sector more visible.— Adrian Vogel, Head of Industry Sectors and member of the executive board of Swissmem

Thales with around 700 employees in Switzerland

In future, Zoller will be responsible for two markets at Thales. The French group’s fields of activity include defence, aerospace, cyber and digital. It has around 700 employees in Switzerland alone.

Zoller names as goals for his new role advancing ongoing programmes and customer relationships, winning new projects and anchoring the company more firmly in both countries, both industrially and technologically.

It is still open who will succeed Zoller as Secretary General of SWISS ASD. Swissmem intends to announce the successor at a later date.