Johann Schneider-Ammann facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Johann Schneider-Ammann
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| President of Switzerland | |
| In office 1 January 2016 – 31 December 2016 |
|
| Vice President | Doris Leuthard |
| Preceded by | Simonetta Sommaruga |
| Succeeded by | Doris Leuthard |
| Vice President of Switzerland | |
| In office 1 January 2015 – 31 December 2015 |
|
| President | Simonetta Sommaruga |
| Preceded by | Simonetta Sommaruga |
| Succeeded by | Doris Leuthard |
| Head of the Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research | |
| In office 1 November 2010 – 31 December 2018 |
|
| Preceded by | Doris Leuthard |
| Succeeded by | Guy Parmelin |
| Member of the Swiss Federal Council | |
| In office 1 November 2010 – 31 December 2018 |
|
| Preceded by | Hans-Rudolf Merz |
| Succeeded by | Karin Keller-Sutter |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Johann Niklaus Schneider
18 February 1952 Sumiswald, Switzerland |
| Political party | Free Democratic Party (until 2009) FDP. The Liberals (since 2009) |
| Spouse |
Katharina Ammann
(m. 1978) |
| Relations | Ulrich Ammann (father-in-law) |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | Langenthal |
| Alma mater | ETH Zürich INSEAD |
Johann Schneider-Ammann (born February 18, 1952) is a Swiss businessman and politician. He was the President of Switzerland in 2016. He was also a member of the Swiss government, called the Federal Council, representing The Liberals party.
While in the government, he was in charge of the department that handles economic affairs, education, and research. His family is known to be very wealthy in Switzerland.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Johann Schneider-Ammann was born on February 18, 1952, in Sumiswald, Switzerland. He was one of five children. His father, Ernst Schneider, was a veterinarian.
He grew up in the Emmental region and went to local schools. He finished high school in Langenthal in 1972. He then studied electrical engineering at ETH Zürich, graduating in 1977. Later, in 1983, he earned a Master of Business Administration degree from INSEAD in France.
Professional Career
Schneider-Ammann started his career at a company called Oerlikon-Bührle from 1978 to 1981. In 1984, he joined his wife's family business, the Ammann Group, in Langenthal.
From 1990 to 2010, he was the president and chairman of the Ammann Group. He was the fourth generation of the family to lead the company. After 2010, he passed control of the company to his two children.
Political Career
.jpg)
In 1999, Schneider-Ammann was elected to the Swiss National Council. This is one of the two parts of the Swiss parliament. He represented the canton of Bern as a member of the Free Democratic Party. From 1999, he also led a business group called Swissmem. He was re-elected to the National Council in 2003 and 2007.
In 2009, he became a member of the new political party, FDP.The Liberals. In 2010, he was elected to the Swiss Federal Council, which is like the government's cabinet. He took office on November 1, 2010. He became the head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs. This department later changed its name to include Education and Research in 2013. Before joining the Federal Council, he said he would leave his business roles.
In 2015, he became the Vice President of Switzerland under President Simonetta Sommaruga. On January 1, 2016, he became the President of the Swiss Confederation. Doris Leuthard became the Vice President at the same time.
On June 1, 2016, as President of Switzerland, Schneider-Ammann attended the official opening of the Gotthard Base Tunnel. This tunnel became the world's longest railway tunnel. Other leaders, like German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President François Hollande, were also there.
Schneider-Ammann left the Federal Council on December 31, 2018. Karin Keller-Sutter took his place on January 1, 2019.
Personal Life
In 1978, Johann Schneider married Katharina Ammann. She is a veterinarian. Her father, Ulrich Ammann, was the president and main owner of the Ammann Group. Johann and Katharina have two children:
- Hans-Christian Schneider (born 1979)
- Daniela Schneider (born 1981)
Schneider-Ammann lives in Langenthal, Switzerland.
Other Activities
- He was an ex-officio member of the Board of Governors for the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
- He was an ex-officio member of the Board of Governors for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
- He was a member of the Joint World Bank-IMF Development Committee.
See also
In Spanish: Johann Schneider-Ammann para niños
