Competencies
Public Affairs
Financial Communication
Crises Communication
Litigation PR
Reputation Management
ESG Communication
Protecting your reputation is our mission
Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Counselors is the leading strategic communications consultancy in Switzerland.
With offices in Zurich, Bern and Geneva, the consultancy has a presence in Switzerland's most important economic and political centres. We have extensive experience in providing strategic advice to companies, organisations and individuals in the fields of public affairs, financial and capital markets communications, litigation PR, crisis communications, reputation management and ESG communications.
Our clients are advised and supported exclusively by our partners who, as the owners of Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Counselors, are directly responsible for the success of the company.We have been the no. 1 M&A communications consulting firm in Switzerland for many years. We are also one of the most important PR advisors in this field globally, according to Mergermarket's annual rankings. Our partners all have access to wide and long-established national and international networks of contacts.
We are guided by our client's best interests in everything we do.
Partner
Reto Gerber
Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Counselors
Kirchenweg 8
CH-8008 Zurich
Phone: +41 43 344 42 54
Mobile: +41 78 625 48 32
reto.gerber@konsulenten.ch
Reto Gerber
Partner
Core competencies. Reto Gerber’s core competencies include
- Positioning of executives, management, and supervisory boards
- Litigation PR
- Strategies for ESG communication
- Reputation and crisis management
- Coaching in new media worlds
- Communications support for change processes
Experience. Reto Gerber, dipl. sc. nat. ETH, can look back on a long and successful career within the media, largely in management positions. Amongst others, he was a founding member of the business magazine ECO and led the programme for many years. He also built up the business department, and later the foreign affairs department of the German-language Swiss television. Previously, he held positions at the the Sonntagszeitung among other publications.
Reto Gerber holds a degree in environmental sciences and a postgraduate degree in business sciences, both from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH).
Marie-Hélène Hancock
Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Counselors
Rue de Malatrex 50
CH-1211 Geneva 11
Phone: +41 22 340 28 45
Mobile: +41 79 204 21 22
marie-helene.hancock@konsulenten.ch
Marie-Hélène Hancock
Partner
Core competencies. Marie-Hélène Hancock's core skills include
- Developing brand strategies and transposing them on an operational application, in Switzerland and worldwide
- Advising on the choice of communications tools and their content, both visual and verbal
- Providing personal advice, particularly in coaching
- Handling relations with the media, either for a specific project or on a long-term basis
Experience. Marie-Hélène Hancock holds a degree in business management, with a specialization in finance, from the University of Geneva as well as a Master of Advanced Studies in Visualization and Communication Graphics from the Federal Polytechnic School of Lausanne (EPFL).
From 1995 to 2008, she worked with the Pictet banking group, Switzerland’s leading private banker, first as Press Officer and then, for eight years, as the Group Head of Corporate Communications with responsibility for Switzerland and worldwide. She previously worked as a Senior Account Executive with the representative of Hill & Knowlton in French-speaking Switzerland.
Rob Hartmans
Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Counselors
Kirchenweg 8
CH-8008 Zurich
Phone: +41 43 344 42 42
Mobile: +41 79 254 03 66
rob.hartmans@konsulenten.ch
Rob Hartmans
Partner
Core competencies. Rob Hartmans’ core competencies include
- Developing and implementing strategies and concepts for purposeful and effective corporate communications and media relations
- Advising and supporting clients on communications and policy
- Sparring partner for communication managers and their teams in crises and change processes (turnarounds, restructurings, acquisitions)
- Trade association work and lobbying
Experience. Before joining Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Counselors as a Partner, Rob Hartmans was an independent consultant for strategy, communication and policy with offices in Zurich, Bern and Zug.
From 2006 to 2014 he was Head of Corporate Communications at Helsana and played a central role in the company’s work with trade associations. Before that, Rob Hartmans worked for Swiss Life (2001-2006, responsible for PR and media work in the Swiss market), as well as in various communications functions at Zurich Insurance (1996 to 2001, ultimately responsible for worldwide internal communications). Prior to his switch to corporate communications, he was a journalist and editor at various newspapers for ten years.
Rob Hartmans studied history and political science at the University of Zurich and has an Executive Master’s in general management from the University of St. Gallen.
Aloys Hirzel
Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Counselors
Kirchenweg 8
CH-8008 Zurich
Phone: +41 43 344 42 42
aloys.hirzel@konsulenten.ch
Aloys Hirzel
Senior Counselor
Core competencies. The main focus of Aloys Hirzel's work includes
- Developing and implementing innovative strategies for internal and external corporate communications in normal and crisis situations
- Consolidating individual interests in order to push through overriding corporate concepts and strategies
- Communications support for strategic projects (restructurings, acquisitions, mergers, IPOs)
- Managing reputations and expectations
Experience. Aloys Hirzel was co-founder and until 1996 chairman of the board and managing partner of Trimedia Communications, Switzerland's largest internationally active communications consultancy.
Until 1976 he was head of communications and press for the Mövenpick group of companies.
Before this he worked as a journalist for various daily newspapers. Aloys Hirzel is a member of the International Public Relations Association and the European Association of Political Consultants (EAPC). He also lectures at universities and business schools.
Dr. Matthias D. Knill
Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Counselors
Kirchenweg 8
CH-8008 Zurich
Phone: +41 43 344 42 42
Mobile: +41 79 218 16 30
matthias.knill@konsulenten.ch
Dr. Matthias D. Knill
Partner
Core competencies. Matthias Knill's core competencies include
- Communications support in change processes
- Developing and implementing messages in difficult situations
- Supporting the effective communication of scientific issues to different target groups
Experience. Matthias D. Knill, who holds a Ph.D. in natural sciences from the Swiss Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, was head of corporate communications for the SIG Group from 1999 to 2005.
Before this (from 1995) he was a scientist and deputy manager of the communication department at Nagra (Switzerland's National Cooperative for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste).
Prior to this Matthias Knill worked as assistant lecturer at various institutes of the Swiss Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich.
Andrés Luther
Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Counselors
Kirchenweg 8
CH-8008 Zurich
Phone: +41 43 344 42 42
andres.luther@konsulenten.ch
Andrés Luther
Partner
Core competencies. The main focus of Andrés Luther's work includes
- Management of strategic communications projects and board-level consultancy
- Issues management and communications support for legal cases
- Capital market communications and investor relations
- Development and implementation of communications strategies in the fields of corporate governance, corporate responsibility and sustainability
- Development and implementation of online and social media strategies
Experience. Andrés Luther MA worked in various communications roles at Credit Suisse for more than 10 years up to 2014. From 2005 he was Head of Group Communications and from 2011 Co-Head of Corporate Communications with responsibility for group-level communications, worldwide private banking and the Swiss and Asia-Pacific regions. Before that, Andrés Luther was Head of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications at Day Software, an internet software company that is now part of Adobe Software.
Andrés Luther has a Masters degree in English and Spanish literature and language from the University of Basel.
MA Dominique Reber
Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Counselors
Kramgasse 16
CH-3011 Berne
Phone: +41 31 312 64 33
Mobile: +41 76 405 65 85
dominique.reber@konsulenten.ch
MA Dominique Reber
Partner
Core competencies. The main focus of Dominique Reber's work includes
- Development of communication strategies for companies in transition
- Effective strategies for sustainability communication
- Personal coaching and training of leaders in communication
- Access at national and international level to politicians and authorities in more than 50 countries
- Development of positioning concepts for companies and organizations with a strong connection to the political and social environment
- Crisis communication / communication on competition and antitrust law issues
Experience. Dominique Reber was a member of the Executive Board of economiesuisse, the umbrella association for Swiss business until 2012. He led political work relating to major infrastructure projects, energy supply and environmental issues. Among other things he attended the 2010 Copenhagen climate change negotiations as a member of the Swiss government’s delegation.
Before this, Dominique Reber worked in various positions in lobbying, corporate communications and journalism, with an emphasis on IT and communications technology. This included spells as Head of Communications at Sunrise Communications AG and Head of Public Affairs at Swisscom AG and at eBay International in Europe.
From 2019-2022, Dominique Reber was President of the FIPRA Network, the largest global organisation of public affairs consultancies.
Dominique Reber has a Masters in History and romanistic literature and linguistics Studies from Basel University, as well as an Executive Masters in International and European Business Law from St. Gallen University.
Dominique Reber is the current president of Club Politique de Berne.
lic. rer. pol. Hugo Schittenhelm
Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Counselors
Kramgasse 16
CH-3011 Berne
Phone: +41 31 312 64 33
Mobile: +41 79 239 32 50
hugo.schittenhelm@konsulenten.ch
lic. rer. pol. Hugo Schittenhelm
Partner
Core competencies. The core competencies of Hugo Schittenhelm include
- Development of communication strategies for companies and institutions based on well-founded analyses of the political and economic circumstances
- Introduction of sustainable relationships with governments, public authorities, the media, business and culture
- Strategies for the systematic monitoring of political-regulatory processes
- Crisis prevention and communication
Experience. Prior to joining Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Counselors as a partner, Hugo Schittenhelm, lic.rer. pol., (focus on economics), was a freelance communication consultant in Bern.
From 1999 until the end of 2005, he was the head of communication for Federal Councillor Moritz Leuenberger and managed the press and information service of the Federal Department for Environment, Traffic, Energy and Communication.
Earlier, he had supported Federal Councillors Kaspar Villiger and Otto Stich as their spokesman at the Federal Ministry of Finance. In the earliest days of his career, he worked as a political journalist for «Associated Press» and the daily newspaper «Der Bund».
lic. oec. publ. Rolf D. Schläpfer
Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Counselors
Kirchenweg 8
CH-8008 Zurich
Phone: +41 43 344 42 42
rolf.schlaepfer@konsulenten.ch
lic. oec. publ. Rolf D. Schläpfer
Partner
Core competencies. Rolf Schläpfer's core competencies include
- Support for strategic projects (leadership changes, restructurings, M&A, going public)
- Reputation management and crisis management
- Developing corporate identity and brand strategies
- Specialist communication in the healthcare and life sciences sectors
Experience. Rolf Schläpfer, lic. oec. publ., headed Roche’s global corporate communications for over ten years until 2008. He was the first communications specialist to join the extended Executive Committee of the leading pharmaceutical group.
After graduating in business administration, he worked in product management at Colgate, where he was responsible for several international brands. From 1987 to 1997 he was Senior Partner at the Wirz Group. He co-founded Wirz Identity AG, which as CEO he built up into a leading company for corporate identity and brand positioning.
Rolf Schläpfer has many years of experience as a guest lecturer at various universities and as a moderator of high-ranking panels.
Dr. Victor Schmid
Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Counselors
Kramgasse 16
CH-3011 Berne
Phone: +41 31 312 64 33
Mobile: +41 79 350 05 37
victor.schmid@konsulenten.ch
Dr. Victor Schmid
Partner
Core competencies. Victor Schmid's core competencies include
- Brokering contacts with governments, public authorities, the media, and business and cultural circles
- Positioning and profiling companies and leading business figures
- Developing and implementing communications strategies for M&As, IPOs and going-private projects
- Personal communications and presentational training for managers and opinion-formers
Experience. Victor Schmid, holds a Ph.D. in sociology and political sciences. He was a freelance communications consultant until 1996.
Until 1994 he was first vice president/head of corporate communications of Ascom Holding AG.
Until 1991, he was an advisor to Swiss Federal Councilor Flavio Cotti and press spokesman for the Federal Department of Home Affairs; before this he worked in various positions as a communications manager and journalist. Victor Schmid is president and co-founder of the Club Politique de Berne, a unique club for members only dedicated to political issues in Berne.
Michael Schoenenberger
Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Counselors
Kirchenweg 8
CH-8008 Zurich
Phone: +41 43 344 42 52
Mobile: +41 76 433 81 02
michael.schoenenberger@konsulenten.ch
Michael Schoenenberger
Partner
Core competencies. Michael Schoenenberger’s core competencies include
- Developing communication strategies for businesses and organizations
- Formulating narratives to tackle long-term challenges
- Positioning, personal coaching and training for managers
- Supporting and advising businesses and individuals in critical situations
- Monitoring and analysing national and international political risks, and working out strategies and measures to minimize risks and ensure business success
- Protecting interests in political and regulatory processes
Experience. Michael Schoenenberger has many years of professional experience in media and communication. He gained management experience in various executive positions. From 2016-2020, he was head of the domestic politics department at the "Neue Zürcher Zeitung", where he was also responsible for digitalisation processes. His distinctive analytical skills, his sense for the conceptual and the implementable as well as a sustainable network in media, politics and business distinguish him. His clients include large international companies, Swiss SMEs, start-ups and on a personal level business and political leaders.
Michael Schoenenberger holds a Master of Arts from the University of Zurich in History, Political Science and German Linguistics.
lic. oec. publ. Jürg Wildberger
Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Counselors
Kirchenweg 8
CH-8008 Zurich
Phone: +41 43 344 42 42
Mobile: +41 79 351 10 24
juerg.wildberger@konsulenten.ch
lic. oec. publ. Jürg Wildberger
Senior Counselor
Core competencies. Jürg Wildberger’s main focuses include
- Litigation PR
- Crisis communication
- Personal coaching and support for CEOs and executives in difficult media situations
- Storytelling focused on the strengths and weaknesses of the selected digital and linear media
- Media and crisis training
- Formulating communication strategies for companies, CEOs and executives
- Communications Audit: analyzing strengths and weaknesses of current communications; formulating measures
Experience. Jürg Wildberger has wide experience of journalism and business. After studying economics at the University of Zurich he worked as a business journalist at «Finanz und Wirtschaft» and then took a senior role at «Berner Zeitung».
In 1995 he became the first editor-in-chief of news magazine «FACTS» and was later appointed editor-in-chief of «Weltwoche». He was deputy editor-in-chief of the «European Business Channel» and in 1990 founded the «10 vor 10» news magazine on Swiss television. In 1998 he set up TV3, the first fully programmed private Swiss television station, which he led until 2002.
He has been a partner at Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Counselors since 2007.
Dr. Andrea Willimann
Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Counselors
Kramgasse 16
CH-3011 Berne
Telefon: +41 31 312 64 33
Mobile: +41 76 329 19 23
andrea.willimann@konsulenten.ch
Dr. Andrea Willimann
Partner
Core competencies. Dr. Andrea Willimann’s main areas of expertise include
- Development of strategic solutions in the field of communications and media
- Formulation of independent second opinions in connection with the positioning of companies and individuals faced with political or regulatory challenges
- Assisting in the preparation of strategic decisions through the monitoring and analysis of the political arena and administration, as well as business and academic circles
- Advising on cyber strategies and offering personal coaching and training in the area of digital communications
Experience. Dr. Andrea Willimann holds a degree in History and Economics. She has over a decade of management experience from her roles as an editor-in-chief and company director. Andrea Willimann owes her wide-ranging communications expertise and her comprehensive network of contacts in the Swiss capital of Berne as well as in Central Switzerland to her experience in all relevant areas of journalism – including digital communications and communications consulting – and her work as an author and lecturer.
We
We have many years of experience and an extensive network of contacts.
Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Counselors brings together international experience, tried and tested expertise in communications and crisis management, and an extensive network of personal contacts in business, political, cultural and public sector circles. It is the leading consultancy in Switzerland for M&A transactions and IPOs.
We regard ourselves as advocates for our clients.
The partners at Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Counselors regard themselves as their clients' advocates in all communications matters. They help clients develop the right strategies and content, and use their expertise and extensive contacts to ensure this content reaches the defined target groups.
We are committed to personal consultancy.
Advice and support are provided on a very individual basis. Each client is looked after personally by one of the partners. All the partners have years of senior management experience at international corporations as well as extensive practical knowledge of the communications market.
We have national and international networks.
With offices in Zurich, Bern and Geneva, the consultancy has a presence in Switzerland's most important economic and political centers. Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Counselors is the only Swiss member of H/Advisors and Fipra, the world's leading international consultancy networks for financial communications and public affairs.
Competencies
Corporate Communication
Reputation Management
Board & Executive Communication
M&A and IPO Communication
Issue and Crisis Management
Litigation PR
Public Affairs
Investor Relations
Corporate Branding
ESG Communications
Our values and principles
Our values and principles
We are guided by our client's best interests in everything we do.
Professionalism, independence, integrity, and discretion are our fundamental values.
Professionalism. We support the interests of our clients with the utmost commitment and a strong sense of responsibility, but we also maintain the necessary critical distance.
Independence. Our advice and recommendations are always impartial.
Integrity. We will refuse or terminate any mandate that is not or is no longer consistent with our principles.
Discretion. Our contacts with our counterparts are based on trust and full transparency.
Our history
Advocates for communications: a vision turns into reality.
More than 25 years ago, the founding partners of Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Counselors launched a new type of communications consultancy in Switzerland providing strategic support for companies and leaders in all matters relating to reputation management.
On 1 January 1997, as "Hirzel, Rasi, Schmid Kommunikationskonsulenten", the founding partners Aloys Hirzel, Roland Rasi and Victor Schmid began to implement their vision of acting as advocates for their clients’ communication.
v.l.: Dr. Victor Schmid, Aloys Hirzel, Dr. Roland Rasi (1997)
One year later, on January 1st, 1998, Jörg Neef joined as another founding partner in the firm, which became "Hirzel.Neef.Rasi.Schmid.Konsulenten".
After the departure of Roland Rasi, the company was converted into a limited company under the name "Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Konsulenten AG".
v.l.: Dr. Victor Schmid, Dr. Jörg Neef, Aloys Hirzel (2022)
From the very outset, the joint vision of the ‘Konsulenten’ was to build up a strategic communications and business consultancy where the counselors would meet at an equal level with the business and political leaders to whom they provided advice.
The notion of "advocates for communications " was summed up by Aloys Hirzel in a concise yet memorable document. The company’s two main principles – a foregoing of operational PR activities and a focus on the recruitment of highly experienced partnerswho are also shareholders of the company - were subsequently implemented without compromise. This paper, which addresses both the ambitions of Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Counselors and the high demands we make upon our partners, remains just as valid today.
Many clients have been advised by HNS over years and even decades.
Former partners
A look back. Partners who made us and who were part of the company.
"We found a niche in giving communication more weight in terms of content than any buzzword or slogan can. Our offer was very well received and we ourselves have been surprised by the success of our business model. We seem to have struck a chord with the Zeitgeist and to have covered a need that was present but lay latent."
...says Dr Jörg Neef, founding partner, a graduate of the University of Zurich and the former Managing Director for Global Corporate and Marketing Communications at investment bank Credit Suisse First Boston.
Former partners
- Dr. Jörg Neef (1998—2022), founding partner
- Dr. Erich Vad (2018—2019)
- Dr. Christine Menz (2002—2018)
- Dr. Thomas Schneckenburger (2014—2018)
- Andreas Thommen (2002—2017)
- Dr. Urs Läubli (2001—2015 †)
- Dr. Franz Egle (1998—2006)
- Marco Casanova (2002—2003)
- Dr. Roland Rasi (1997—2000), founding partner
Global network
Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Counselors is the only Swiss member of the main international consultancy networks for financial communications and public affairs:
Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Counselors is the exclusive Swiss member of the international communications advisory network H/Advisors. H/Advisors is a global organization of strategic communications advisors dedicated to building, enhancing and protecting our clients’ reputations while helping them achieve their business objectives. We are present in 35 cities in more than 20 countries, with over 1,400 consultants. H/Advisors is backed by Havas, one of the world’s largest global communication groups, founded in 1835 in Paris.
FIPRA, the global boutique network of first-class public policy and regulatory advisers, is the world's leading international public affairs advisory network. Based in Brussels, its members include the best advisors on public affairs, public policy and regulation. Fipra also helps clients with advice on government relations and regulatory issues. Since it was founded in 2000, Fipra has extended its network worldwide and is now active in over 60 countries.
Blockchain Switzerland H/Advisors
Havas Group and Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Counselors have joined forces to create Blockchain Switzerland-H/Advisors, a new offer dedicated to advising start-ups, corporations and institutions within the highly dynamic Swiss blockchain ecosystem.
News
News
Press Release H/Advisors: Rebranding
September 20, 2022: The /amo network rebrands as H/Advisors, reflecting its new organization, global ambition and strong backing by the Havas Group. Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Counselors is the only Swiss member of H/Advisors.
H/Advisors has today been unveiled as the new name and brand identity of the leading international strategic communications network founded over 20 years ago by Havas, one of the world’s largest communications groups.
Distributed systems and the disappearance of the intermediary
Andrés Luther and Fabien Aufrechter of Blockchain Switzerland/AMO discuss, why we should expect businesses using blockchain technologies to adopt a different approach to corporate communications.
(Article)
Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Counselors and Havas launch Blockchain Switzerland/AMO
Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Counselors and Havas Group have joined forces to create Blockchain Switzerland/AMO, a new offer dedicated to advising startups, corporations and institutions within the highly dynamic Swiss blockchain ecosystem.
Contact
Hotline
Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Counselors is always personally available to you – 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Phone +41 43 344 42 42
E-Mail contact@konsulenten.ch
ZurichKirchenweg 8 |
BernKramgasse 16 |
Geneva50 Rue de Malatrex |
Publications
Distributed systems and the disappearance of the intermediary
(PDF - 223 KB)Why we should expect businesses using blockchain technologies to adopt a different approach to corporate communications.
Article by Andrés Luther and Fabien Aufrechter, Blockchain Switzerland/AMO, 4 February 2020
Disclaimer
Hirzel. Neef. Schmid. Consultants accepts no responsibility for the up-to-dateness, accuracy, completeness or quality of this site’s contents. It disclaims any liability for damages – material or intangible – caused by the use or non-use of the information provided, or by the use of erroneous or incomplete information, unless a case of gross negligence or intent can be proved.
Hirzel. Neef. Schmid. Consultants expressly reserves the right to change parts of the site or the whole site without notice, to add, to delete or to halt publication from time to time or to close the site down permanently.
Hirzel. Neef. Schmid. Consultants tries to respect the copyright on all the graphics and texts used, to use graphics and texts of its own production, or to use license-free graphics and texts. All brand labels and trademarks used in the site that may be protected by third parties are subject without restriction to the provisions of the applicable brand law and the ownership rights of the registered owners. The mere mention of a name does not imply that a brand label is not protected by the rights of a third party!
The copyright for published items created by Hirzel. Neef. Schmid. Consultants rests with Hirzel. Neef. Schmid. Consultants. Such graphics, sound files, video sequences and texts may not be duplicated or used in other electronic or printed publications without the express permission of Hirzel. Neef. Schmid. Consultants.
If there is an opportunity on the Internet site to enter personal or business data (e-mail address, name, address), the user divulges such information expressly on a voluntary basis. Procurement and payment for all services offered can also be effected – where technically possible and reasonable – by giving anonymous data or a pseudonym instead.
The copyright on all published information rests with Hirzel. Neef. Schmid. Consultants or with the party that produced the text and that is registered as the author or rights-owner in relation to the text. Anyone may create links to the homepage or any of the other pages. However, the pages may not be displayed in a frame and texts may not be used without the express permission of Hirzel. Neef. Schmid. Consultants or without authorization from the holder of the relevant rights.
Privacy Policy
Preamble (mission statement, scope, changes)
HIRZEL. NEEF. SCHMID. KONSULENTEN ("We") takes your privacy seriously. We are committed to process any personal information we collect (hereafter generally referred to as information) in full transparency, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, and to ensure the accuracy, confidentiality and security of your information.
This privacy notice applies to the information We collect from you as an individual through our website located at www.konsulenten.ch (“Website”) or through our app or social media pages. By accessing the Website you agree with this Privacy Policy and the processing of personal information described herein. If you do not agree please refrain from accessing this Website.
This privacy notice is dated May 2018. It may be updated from time to time, in which case you shall be notified here of any such modification.
1. What is personal information?
Personal information is any information that can enable the identification of an individual or a legal entity or that relates to an identified or identifiable individual or legal entity. Information may, as such, enable your identification (like your first and last names, email address or social security number), or may enable such identification and provide information when combined with one another (such as medical records, salary grade, role and function). In so far as any such information enables to identify you as a person or can be related to you, whether taken separately or combined with one another, it shall be considered as personal information.
2. What information do We collect from you?
Information that We may collect through your browsing on our Website may typically consist of the following:
Information you actively provide to us: Browsing our website enables you to:
- Register for our newsletter, which will require you providing us, at your own will and thus with your consent, your email address to enable us to send you the newsletter subscribed to.
- Order products, which will require you providing us, as part of performance of the contract, the following mandatory information to enable us to process your order:
- Your name
- Your company name
- Your address, including country
- Ihre E-Mail Adresse
- Your phone number
- Your e-mail
- Exchanges. Further information might be provided when you exchange with us through our contact page or otherwise, in which case such processing will be initiated by you, at your own will and thus with your consent.
Information We collect automatically from you browsing our Website. This information which, other than your internet protocol address (IP), does not contain personal information, includes:
- Device information: for instance your hardware model, operating system version or unique device identifier.
- Log information: information automatically collected when you browse our Website in server logs include your internet protocol address and device and event information (such as crashes, system activity, browser type, browser language as well as date and time of your browsing activities).
- Cookies and similar technologies: cookies and similar technologies are used to collect and store information when you visit our Website, for instance to identify your browser or device.
In order to obtain more information and in order to learn how and to what extent you can avoid such automatic collection of information please refer to our Cookie Notice on the footer.
3. Why do We collect such information?
Information you actively provide:
Such information is collected to achieve the following purposes:
- To enable us to send you the newsletter you have subscribed to;
- To enable us to process your order (payment and delivery);
- To answer to your queries when you contact us directly;
- To provide you with information about our products and services.
Your consent with the processing of your information for these purposes can be withdrawn at any time by sending an email to: contact@konsulenten.ch
Information We receive automatically from you browsing our Website:
Such information may be processed for the following purposes:
- to improve the use and features of the Website;
- to understand what services and products you are interested in;
- to adjust and develop products and services;
- to correct errors;
- to provide you with advertising and other information which better reflects your actual interests;
- to identify users, who commit unlawful acts or infringe our rights;
In order to obtain more information and in order to learn how and to what extent you can avoid such automatic collection of information please refer to our Cookie Notice on the footer of this Website.
4. Who might We share your information with?
We may disclose and share some of your information with:
- Service providers and processors we may engage with to provide services to us on our behalf, such as hosting or support of our Website, or for payment processing. In providing their services, these providers may access, receive, maintain or otherwise process your information on our behalf. Our contracts with these providers do not permit use of your information for their own purposes, including their marketing purposes. Consistent with applicable legal requirements, we take commercially reasonable steps to require third parties to adequately safeguard your information and only process it in accordance with our instructions.
- Any third party to which We are ordered or obliged to disclose such information as a result of a Court order, governmental authority and/or by law.
- Any relevant entity for emergency purposes that compel such disclosure.
- In addition, we may always share information with third parties to pursue overriding legitimate interests (to the extent permitted by applicable laws). We may, by way of example, forward information to criminal prosecution authorities if necessary to investigate into illegal behavior, or we may use information in court or debt collection proceedings if necessary to enforce our rights.
5. Where will your information be stored?
We take steps to ensure that the information collected under this privacy notice is processed according to the provisions of this notice and the requirements of applicable law wherever the data is located.
Your information will be stored and [normally] processed in Switzerland. Notwithstanding the foregoing, depending upon the location of our service providers, your information may occasionally be processed outside of Switzerland.
When We transfer information from Switzerland to other countries outside the European Economic Area, We shall only do so in accordance with the law, notably by entering into data transfer agreements and Standard Contractual Clauses with the relevant entities.
6. How do We protect your information?
We are committed to protecting the security of your personal information.
We use a variety of security technologies and procedures to help protect your information from unauthorized access, use, modification or disclosure to an appropriate level depending upon the sensitivity of the information.
We further contractually ensure that any third party (as described above) equally processes your information in a secured way to ensure its confidentiality and integrity.
7. How long do We retain your information?
The information you actively provided will be stored for as long as required for the purpose (your e-mail address will, by way of example, be stored for as long as you are subscribed to our newsletter). Thereafter, we may retain your information if the law requires or if we keep information until related claims have become subject to statute of limitations (e.g. data relating to products ordered and delivered).
In respect of information collected automatically please refer to the Cookie Policy on the footer. Google Analytics Data are stored up to 38 months.
8. Social Media and Other Websites
Wherever We are present in any of the various social media forums like Facebook, Twitter, Yammer, Pinterest, Instagram, LinkedIn, Youtube, etc., and you visit our site you should be familiar with and understand the tools provided by those sites that allow you to make choices about how you share your information in your social media profile(s).
For these forums the privacy practices or policies of the relevant third parties apply, so we encourage you to read the applicable privacy notices, terms of use and related information about how your information is used in these social media environments.
Our Website may contain links to third-party websites, notably through social media feeds; if you follow these links, you will exit our Website. We cannot accept liability for the use of your information by these organizations. For more information and details, please consult the privacy terms of the websites you are visiting (if such a statement is provided).
9. What rights to you have in respect of your information?
You have the right (i) to submit an information request in order to learn what categories of information we are processing about you, for what purposes, how we share your information with others and how long we store your information, (ii) to request that we rectify incorrect information about you, (iii) to request that we stop or limit processing your data and (iv) to request that we provide you with your Information in a format suitable for migration.
If you would like to submit such request or should you have any question related to such processing or to this privacy notice, you may contact us by sending an email to: contact@konsulenten.ch.
In rare cases we may – to the extent permitted by applicable law – have to partially or entirely refuse to comply with such requests. In such case we shall inform you about the reasons of such refusal.
You are entitled to lodge a complaint in respect of our processing of your information with the supervisory authority. If you are a resident of Switzerland the complaint can be lodged at the following address:
Swiss Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner
Feldeggweg 1
3003 Bern
Switzerland
For more information please see www.edoeb.admin.ch. If you are a resident of a country of the European Economic Area, the complaint can be lodged with the data protection authority of your country.
10. Controller [and Representative]
The controller of information collected through the Website is
Matthias Knill
Hirzel. Neef. Schmid. Konsulenten
Kirchenweg 8
CH-8008 Zürich
11. Governing Law and Jurisdiction
This Policy is subject to Swiss law, at the exclusion of its Private International Law Statute. Any dispute arising out of or related to this Policy shall be submitted to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Zürich.
Cookie Policy
This notice outlines our handling practices with regards to cookies and related technologies in connection with our website at www.konsulenten.ch and through our official social media pages that we control as well as through HTML-formatted email messages that we may send to you (collectively the “Sites”).
The access and use of our Sites require our use of cookies and related technologies; these are essential to enable our Sites to run properly: refusing the use of such cookies in your browser settings or otherwise may prove detrimental to the access and use of our Sites. We may additionally use advertising cookies and tracking technologies to provide you with an enhanced or customized experience of our Sites; you have the option to agree to our use of cookies, however, if you do not to accept any advertising cookie this shall not impact your use of our Sites in any way.
1. What is a cookie
A cookie is a small text file that is stored on your computer or mobile device by websites that you visit and which allows us or a third party to (1) enable certain functions of the Site, (2) provide anonymous data analytics and (3) store your preferences to speed up your future activities, and personalize your experiences on the Sites. A cookie can do this because the Sites can read and write these files, enabling them to recognise you and remember important information that will make your use of a website more convenient (for example by remembering preference settings), and that will enable content that is more relevant to you.
Some cookies may store personal information, for example if you click “remember me” when logging. Most cookies however will not collect information that identifies you and will instead collect more general information such as the name of the website from which the cookie has come from, the “lifetime” of the cookie (i.e. how long it will remain on your device) and a value, which usually is a randomly generated number.
2. What type of cookies do we use?
Cookies can either be session or persistent cookies. A session cookie expires automatically when you close your browser. A persistent cookie will remain until it expires (as set in the cookies themselves) or you delete your cookies. To the extent information collected through cookies constitutes personal information, the provisions in the Privacy Policy www.konsulenten.ch apply and complement this Cookie Notice.
Our cookies generally belong to one of the following categories:
- Type of Cookie: Functionality
- Examples:
- cms_main (CMS)
- cms_manager (CMS)
- cookies_accepted (Cookie-Funktion)
- What do they do?
- These cookies are necessary/essential to make our Sites work correctly, they enable you to move around our Sites and use our features. Examples include remembering previous actions (e.g. entered text) when navigating back to a page in the same session. They can also enable visitors to watch videos, play games and engage with social tools, such as blogs, chatrooms and forums
- Do these cookies collect my personal data / identify me?
- These cookies need not, but might identify you as an individual, but are deleted after you end the session.
- Examples:
- Type of Cookie: Performance
- Examples:
- _ga (Google Analytics)
- _gat (Google Analytics)
- _gid (Google Analytics)
- What do they do?
- These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our Sites by providing information about the areas visited, the time spent on the Sites, and any issues encountered, such as error messages. This helps us improve the performance of our Sites.
- These cookies don’t identify you as an individual. All data is collected and aggregated anonymously.
- Site about “how Google uses Cookies”
- Examples:
- Type of Cookie: Targeting/advertising
- Examples:
- This site does not actively set advertising-cookies
- What do they do?
- These cookies are used to deliver content that is more relevant to you and your interests. They may be used to deliver targeted advertising or to limit the number of times you see an advertisement. They also help us measure the effectiveness of advertising campaigns on our Sites and third party sites.
We may use these cookies to remember the Sites you have visited and we may share this information with other parties, including advertisers and our agencies.
- These cookies are used to deliver content that is more relevant to you and your interests. They may be used to deliver targeted advertising or to limit the number of times you see an advertisement. They also help us measure the effectiveness of advertising campaigns on our Sites and third party sites.
- Do these cookies collect my personal data / identify me?
- Most types of these cookies track consumers via their IP address so may collect some personal identifiable information. These cookies will in any case only be used subject to your prior express consent that you may at all time withdraw and shall in any case not be stored for more than a year as of the time they have been set on your device.
- Examples:
3. How do third parties use cookies on our Sites?
Third party companies like analytics companies generally use cookies to collect user information on an anonymous basis.
4. Other similar technologies
Our Sites also make use of other tracking technologies including IP addresses and/or log files and/or web beacons, which also help us tailor our Sites to your personal needs:
- IP addresses. An IP address is a number that is used by computers on the network to identify your computer every time you log on to the Internet. We may record IP Addresses for the following purposes: (i) troubleshoot technical concerns, (ii) maintain website safety and security (iii) better understand how our websites are utilised, and (iv) to better tailor content to your needs depending on the country you are in.
- Log Files. We (or a third party on our behalf) may collect information in the form of logs files that record website activity and gather statistics about a user’s browsing habits. These entries are generated anonymously, and help us gather (among other things) (i) a user’s browser type and operating system, (ii) information about a user’s session (such as the URL they came from, the date and time they visited our website, and which pages they've viewed on our website and for how long), and, (iii) other similar navigational or click-stream data. Data collected by Google Analytics will be stored for 38 months.
- Web Beacons: We (or a third party on our behalf) may use web beacons (or clear GIFs) on our Sites. Web beacons (also known as “web bugs”) are small strings of code that provide a method of delivering a graphic image on a web page for the purpose of transferring data back to us. The information collected via web beacons may include information about how a user responds to an email campaign (e.g. the time the email is opened, where does the user link to from the email, etc.). We use web beacon information for a variety of purposes, including, site traffic reporting, unique visitor counts, advertising and email auditing and reporting, and personalization.
5. How can I manage my cookie options?
Although this may change in a recent future, most browsers are still initially set up to automatically accept cookies but allow you to change these settings to delete existing cookies, block future ones or alert you when they are being sent to your device. Please refer to your browser instructions to that effect. Should you modify the settings, please note, however, that you might not be able to use all the features we offer or store your preferences, and that some of our pages may not be displayed properly any longer. Remember that if you use different computers in different locations, you will need to ensure that each browser is adjusted to suit your cookie preferences.
Internet Explorer
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0, 10.0, 11.0
- Click on the 'Tools' option at the top of your browser window and select 'Internet options', then click on the 'Privacy' tab. Ensure that your Privacy level is set to Medium or below, which will then enable cookies in your browser. Settings above Medium will disable cookies.
Microsoft Edge
- Click on the menu button in the upper right corner and select "Settings". Scroll down to the bottom and select "Show advanced settings" Below you will find the category "Cookies" with several options. If you select the "Block all cookies" option, they will no longer be saved.
Google Chrome (Latest version)
- Click on the spanner icon at the top right of your browser window and select ‘Settings’. Click ‘Show advanced settings’ at the bottom and locate the ‘Privacy’ section. Click ‘Content settings’ and within the cookies section at the top, select ‘allow local data to be set’ to enables cookies. To disable cookies please check the ‘Block sites from setting any data’, ‘Block third-party cookies and site data’ and ‘Clear cookies and other site and plug-in data when I close my browser’ options.
Mozilla Firefox
- Click on 'Tools' at the top of your browser window and select Options. Next, select the Privacy icon at the top of the overlay that appears. Check the ‘Accept cookies from sites’ option to enable cookies. If you wish to disable cookies, please uncheck this box.
Safari
- Click on the cog icon located top right of your browser window and select 'Preferences'. Click on the 'Privacy' icon at the top of the overlay that appears. Check the option that says 'Block third-party and advertising cookies'. If you wish to completely disable cookies, please check the ‘Never’ box.
- Additionally, where available, you can exercise your choice in allowing for cookies to be placed on your computer or to opt-out of cookies by visiting the following sites and selecting which company’s cookies you would like to opt out of: http:www.aboutads.info/choices or http://www.youronlinechoices.eu.
- Finally, as a web beacon forms part of a webpage, it is not possible to ‘opt-out’ but you can render them ineffective by opting out of the cookies they set.
More information
You may learn more about cookies at www.allaboutcookies.org.
If you have any question about our Cookie Notice, you may contact us by email at contact@konsulenten.ch.