Kaspar Villiger facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kaspar Villiger
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| Member of the Swiss Federal Council | |
| In office 1 February 1989 – 31 December 2003 |
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| Preceded by | Elisabeth Kopp |
| Succeeded by | Hans-Rudolf Merz |
| President of Switzerland | |
| In office 1 January 1995 – 31 December 1995 |
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| Vice President | Jean-Pascal Delamuraz |
| Preceded by | Otto Stich |
| Succeeded by | Jean-Pascal Delamuraz |
| In office 1 January 2002 – 31 December 2002 |
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| Vice President | Pascal Couchepin |
| Preceded by | Moritz Leuenberger |
| Succeeded by | Pascal Couchepin |
| Minister of the Military | |
| In office 1 February 1989 – 31 December 1995 |
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| Preceded by | Arnold Koller |
| Succeeded by | Adolf Ogi |
| Minister of Finance | |
| In office 1 January 1996 – 31 December 2003 |
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| Preceded by | Otto Stich |
| Succeeded by | Hans-Rudolf Merz |
| 4th Vice President of Switzerland | |
| In office 1 January 2001 – 31 December 2001 |
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| President | Moritz Leuenberger |
| Preceded by | Moritz Leuenberger |
| Succeeded by | Pascal Couchepin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 5 February 1941 Pfeffikon, Lucerne, Switzerland |
| Political party | Free Democratic Party |
| Spouses |
Vera Preisig
(m. 1973) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Old Cantonal School Aarau ETH Zurich |
| Profession | Mechanical engineer |
Kaspar Villiger (born 5 February 1941) is a Swiss businessman and politician. He was a very important person in the Swiss government for many years. He was a member of the Swiss Federal Council from 1989 to 2003. The Federal Council is like the main government group in Switzerland.
Villiger also served as the President of Switzerland twice, in 1995 and again in 2002. Before joining the Federal Council, he was a member of the Swiss parliament. He worked to help the airline Swissair during a difficult time in 2001. Later, he became the chairman of a big Swiss bank called UBS from 2009 to 2012. He has also been on the boards of major companies like Nestlé and Swiss Re.
Early Life and Education
Kaspar Villiger was born on February 5, 1941, in Pfeffikon, Switzerland. His parents were Max and Dory Villiger. His grandfather, Jean Villiger, started a family business in 1888 that made tobacco products.
Kaspar grew up in Pfeffikon and finished his high school studies in Aarau. He then went on to study Mechanical Engineering at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zürich. He graduated in 1965.
Career Highlights
After finishing his studies, Kaspar Villiger joined his family's business in 1966. This happened after his father, Max Villiger, passed away. He worked alongside his older brother, Heinrich, and his sister, Monika.
Kaspar helped the family business grow. He also worked with other businesses and groups. For example, he was the vice president of the Chamber of Commerce of Central Switzerland. He also served on the board of the Association of Employers in Central Switzerland.
Later in his career, Kaspar Villiger took on big roles in the finance world. In 2004, he joined the boards of directors for Nestlé, a famous food company, and Swiss Re, a large insurance company. From 2009 to 2012, he was the Chairman of the Board for UBS, one of Switzerland's biggest banks.
Political Journey
Kaspar Villiger began his important political career on February 1, 1989. On this day, he was elected to the Swiss Federal Council. He was a member of the Free Democratic Party, also known as the Liberals.
During his time in the Federal Council, he was in charge of different government departments:
- He led the Federal Military Department from 1989 to 1995. This department is responsible for the country's defense.
- He then led the Federal Department of Finance from 1996 to 2003. This department manages Switzerland's money and economy.
Kaspar Villiger had the honor of being the President of Switzerland twice. He served as president in 1995 and again in 2002. The president's role in Switzerland is to lead the Federal Council for one year.
In September 2003, after many years of public service, Kaspar Villiger announced that he would leave his position on December 31, 2003.
Other Activities
Kaspar Villiger is also a member of the Global Leadership Foundation. This group is made up of former leaders from different countries. They work together to help support good leadership around the world.
The foundation aims to prevent and solve conflicts peacefully. They also promote good ways of governing, like having democratic systems and respecting human rights. They do this by sharing the experiences of former leaders with current leaders.
See also
In Spanish: Kaspar Villiger para niños
