All the resolutions proposed by the Swiss Life Holding Board of Directors were approved at today's Annual General Meeting of Shareholders. The candidates put forward for election to the Board of Directors were returned by a large majority. Bruno Gehrig is the new Chairman of the Board.
At today's Annual General Meeting in Zurich, Swiss Life Holding shareholders passed all the resolutions proposed by the Board of Directors. Around 1'400 shareholders took part in the event, representing 7'476'593 voting shares or 31.89% of the company's shares.
Elections to the Board of Directors
Incumbent Board members Gerold Bührer and Georges Muller were re-elected. Volker Bremkamp, Paul Embrechts, Bruno Gehrig, Rudolf Kellenberger, Peter Quadri, Pierfranco Riva (suggested by the Fondiaria-SAI Group, the biggest single Swiss Life Holding shareholder), and Franziska Tschudi were newly elected to the Board. Bruno Gehrig was named Chairman of the Board of Directors and Gerold Bührer Vice-Chairman.
"We need to return to the good old unassuming ways that served us so well in the past"
In his address, retiring Chairman of the Board Andres F. Leuenberger stressed that the Swiss Life Group, following the sometimes turbulent developments of the past year, is now back on solid ground. "I am positive that we have set the right course and laid good foundations for a successful future," he stated with conviction.
After commenting on the 2002 annual results, Rolf Dörig, Group CEO explained the Swiss Life Group's priorities for the coming months. With reference to the financial year now underway Mr Dörig sounded a note of cautious optimism: "We remain ahead of target regarding our cost-reduction programme. Following two very weak months at the beginning of the year, business volume started picking up again in March." Thanks to the progress made in implementing its strategic realignment, the Swiss Life Group will stick to its ambitious objectives and anticipates a return to the profit zone in 2003 - providing there is no deterioration in market conditions. The Swiss Life Group CEO asked employees and managers, when dealing with customers and vis-à-vis the general public, to return to the good old unassuming ways that served the company so well in the past. "We are quite rightly expected to be highly professional and retain a sense of proportion without losing sight of the bigger picture," Dörig stressed. Putting the enterprise on such a foundation is a major personal priority for him. "This is the only way to successfully restore faith and confidence in us. And we need such faith if we are to get back on the road to sustained success."
In a short address Bruno Gehrig, newly elected to the Board of Directors and its designated Chairman, emphasised the importance of trust in the insurance business and made the following promise: "Our every effort will be devoted to the good of the enterprise. This course will determine what questions we ask, what discussions we hold and what decisions we make."
Swiss Life
The Swiss Life Group is one of Europe's leading providers of long-term savings and protection and life insurance. The Swiss Life Group offers individuals and companies comprehensive advice and a broad range of products via agents, brokers and banks in its domestic market, Switzerland, where it is market leader, and selected European markets. Multinational companies are serviced with tailor-made solutions by a network of partners in over fifty countries.
The Swiss Life Group, registered in Zurich, was founded in 1857 as the Swiss Life Insurance and Pension Company. Shares of Swiss Life Holding are listed on the SWX Swiss Exchange (SLHN). The company employs around 11 000 persons.
Elections to the Board of Directors
Incumbent Board members Gerold Bührer and Georges Muller were re-elected. Volker Bremkamp, Paul Embrechts, Bruno Gehrig, Rudolf Kellenberger, Peter Quadri, Pierfranco Riva (suggested by the Fondiaria-SAI Group, the biggest single Swiss Life Holding shareholder), and Franziska Tschudi were newly elected to the Board. Bruno Gehrig was named Chairman of the Board of Directors and Gerold Bührer Vice-Chairman.
"We need to return to the good old unassuming ways that served us so well in the past"
In his address, retiring Chairman of the Board Andres F. Leuenberger stressed that the Swiss Life Group, following the sometimes turbulent developments of the past year, is now back on solid ground. "I am positive that we have set the right course and laid good foundations for a successful future," he stated with conviction.
After commenting on the 2002 annual results, Rolf Dörig, Group CEO explained the Swiss Life Group's priorities for the coming months. With reference to the financial year now underway Mr Dörig sounded a note of cautious optimism: "We remain ahead of target regarding our cost-reduction programme. Following two very weak months at the beginning of the year, business volume started picking up again in March." Thanks to the progress made in implementing its strategic realignment, the Swiss Life Group will stick to its ambitious objectives and anticipates a return to the profit zone in 2003 - providing there is no deterioration in market conditions. The Swiss Life Group CEO asked employees and managers, when dealing with customers and vis-à-vis the general public, to return to the good old unassuming ways that served the company so well in the past. "We are quite rightly expected to be highly professional and retain a sense of proportion without losing sight of the bigger picture," Dörig stressed. Putting the enterprise on such a foundation is a major personal priority for him. "This is the only way to successfully restore faith and confidence in us. And we need such faith if we are to get back on the road to sustained success."
In a short address Bruno Gehrig, newly elected to the Board of Directors and its designated Chairman, emphasised the importance of trust in the insurance business and made the following promise: "Our every effort will be devoted to the good of the enterprise. This course will determine what questions we ask, what discussions we hold and what decisions we make."
Swiss Life
The Swiss Life Group is one of Europe's leading providers of long-term savings and protection and life insurance. The Swiss Life Group offers individuals and companies comprehensive advice and a broad range of products via agents, brokers and banks in its domestic market, Switzerland, where it is market leader, and selected European markets. Multinational companies are serviced with tailor-made solutions by a network of partners in over fifty countries.
The Swiss Life Group, registered in Zurich, was founded in 1857 as the Swiss Life Insurance and Pension Company. Shares of Swiss Life Holding are listed on the SWX Swiss Exchange (SLHN). The company employs around 11 000 persons.
Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking information
This publication contains specific forward-looking statements, e.g. statements including terms like “believe”, “assume”, “expect” or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may result in a substantial divergence between the actual results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and those explicitly or implicitly presumed in these statements. Against the background of these uncertainties readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The company assumes no responsibility to update forward-looking statements or to adapt them to future events or developments.
This publication contains specific forward-looking statements, e.g. statements including terms like “believe”, “assume”, “expect” or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may result in a substantial divergence between the actual results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and those explicitly or implicitly presumed in these statements. Against the background of these uncertainties readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The company assumes no responsibility to update forward-looking statements or to adapt them to future events or developments.