Team and management office

Board

  • Urs Wietlisbach

    Founder, Chair of the Board

    Urs Wietlisbach is a Swiss investor and entrepreneur. He is co-founder of Partners Group, one of the largest private-markets managers worldwide. He is also Chairman of the Board of Blue Earth Capital AG and a member of the Board of the Blue Earth Foundation, which focuses on impact investing worldwide. He is Chairman of the two sports foundations Schweizer Sporthilfe and Passion Schneesport. In March 2022, Urs Wietlisbach joined the Giving Pledge Community together with his wife Simone Wietlisbach.

  • Simone Wietlisbach

    Founder, Vice Chair of the Board

    Simone Wietlisbach is a Swiss entrepreneur. She is CEO and owner of PowerForm AG and founder and CEO of Powersource Holding AG (including Powerlife AG, SH Power AG, Powerhair AG). She is also a member of the Board of the Arosa Kulm Hotel & Alpine Spa. As a trained orthomolecular medicine therapist, Reiki therapist, contextual coach, mental trainer and nutritionist, she combines her expertise in these areas to promote holistic approaches to health. She is the mother of two sons. Simone Wietlisbach and her husband Urs Wietlisbach joined the Giving Pledge community in March 2022.

  • Dr. Michael Lorz

    Board Member

    Michael Lorz has been a Board member of the Ursimone Wietlisbach Foundation since January 2024. As founding Managing Director of the EnableMe Foundation and Co-Managing Director of MyHandicap Switzerland and Germany, he has extensive experience in strategic philanthropy, digital innovation and fundraising. His focus is on promoting social inclusion for people with disabilities. Michael has in-depth expertise in organization building, partnership development, impact measurement and private equity investing. His goal is to create sustainable, systemic change for people around the world through innovation, strong networks and targeted investments.

Team

  • Stefan Germann

    CEO

    Stefan Germann joined the Ursimone Wietlisbach Foundation in May 2024 as its first CEO. Before he was CEO of Fondation Botnar (Basel) for 7 years and was working for World Vision in a leading role. He is a global child health and well-being expert with over 30 years’ experience. He started up several social development organizations and programmes in Africa and Asia and worked for over 20 years in Africa and Asia in various innovation and health leadership roles.

  • Marko Röder

    Head of Investment and Finance Solutions

    Marko Röder is Head of Investment and Finance Solutions at the Ursimone Wietlisbach Foundation. He was previously Head of Asset Management and a member of the Executive Board at Vontobel. During his 17 years at Vontobel, he significantly expanded the area of sustainable and impact investments. He is convinced that entrepreneurial action must be harmonized with a positive impact on the environment and society. As an expert in cultural and talent development, his focus at the Ursimone Wietlisbach Foundation is on implementing innovative commitments in the field of education to sustainably support talented young people on their way into professional life.

  • Tanja Hänsli

    Head of Operations

    Tanja Hänsli is Head of Operations at the Ursimone Wietlisbach Foundation, where she also leads the Promoting Sport impact area and oversees its related portfolio. She brings extensive experience in project management, operations, and executive support across the foundation and sports media sectors. Before joining the Foundation, she held key roles at the Beisheim Foundation and SRG SSR, the Swiss public broadcaster, where she coordinated major international sports events. Tanja has an academic background in Social Sciences and has complemented her expertise with additional training in project and foundation management.

  • Merlin Ince

    Executive Assistant

    Merlin Ince provides administrative, organizational, and coordination support to the CEO and operations team of the Ursimone Wietlisbach Foundation. He has a research background in adolescent and youth wellbeing from the University of Cape Town, with project facilitation experience across community-based and multilateral settings, as well as academic institutions. He therefore brings practical experience in supporting programmes and partnerships aligned with the foundation’s thematic focus. Merlin also nurtures a keen interest in writing, both creative non-fiction and fiction, amplifying his contribution to the foundation’s mission through innovative communication and thoughtful narratives.

  • Alysha Flury

    Finance Officer/Business Analyst

    Alysha Flury works as a finance officer/business analyst for the Ursimone Wietlisbach Foundation. She completed a commercial apprenticeship in the foundation administration department of a retirement and nursing home, followed by a vocational baccalaureate. She is currently studying business administration with a specialization in banking and finance at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland. With her experience in the healthcare sector and her background in business administration, Alysha Flury brings valuable perspectives and expertise to her professional environment.