Simon Michel (German pronunciation: [ˈziːmɔn ˈmɪçəl]; born 19 January 1977) is a Swiss businessman and politician who currently serves on the National Council (Switzerland) for The Liberals since 2023.[1] Previously he served on the Cantonal Council of Solothurn between 2017 and 2024.[2][3][4] Since 2014, he is the CEO of Ypsomed Holding, a medical device company, founded by his father Willy Michel who was an estimated net worth of $3.3 billion.[5][6]
Simon Michel | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Official portrait, 2023 | |
| Member of the National Council (Switzerland) | |
| Assumed office 4 December 2023 | |
| Constituency | Canton of Solothurn |
| Member of the Cantonal Council of Solothurn | |
| In office 1 May 2017 – 31 February 2024 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Simon Michel 19 January 1977 |
| Political party | The Liberals |
| Spouse |
Monika Vollmer
(m. 2008) |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent | Willy Michel |
| Alma mater | University of St. Gallen (MS) Lancaster University |
| Occupation | Businessman, politician |
| Website | Official website Parliament website |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Switzerland |
| Branch/service |  Swiss Armed Forces |
| Years of service | 1995-present |
| Rank | Major |
Early life and education
editMichel was born 19 January 1977 to Willy Michel and his first wife. His father founded Ypsomed Holding, a medical device company, in 1984. His net worth is estimated at $3.3 billion by Forbes.[7] He earned a Master of Science in media and communications management from the University of St. Gallen.
Professional career
editIn 2000, Michel started his career by working as project manager at Disetronic Medical Systems, Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of his father Willy Michel's diagnostics company, in Minneapolis, Minnesota followed by a position as business analyst at Arthur D. Little.
Between 2003 and 2006, he worked for Orange Communications SA, a major Swiss telecommunications company. Since 2006 he engaged in a variety of management positions at Ypsomed AG, since 2014 as its CEO.[8][9]
He currently serves on several boards of non-listed companies; MV Capital AG, Ahueni AG, sitem-insel AG, Forster Rohner AG (textile manufacturing), LEM Surgical AG, DCB Research AG, Ypsomed Holding AG (medical diagnostics), Ypsotec AG.[10]
Political career
editIn March 2017, he was elected as lateral entrant, into Cantonal Council of Solothurn for The Liberals.[11] He stepped back from this office by the end of February 2024. Since 4 December 2023, Michel serves on the National Council (Switzerland).[12]
In 2024, Michel became Chairman of Progresuisse, a Swiss advocacy and lobbying group working towards closer ties between Switzerland and the E.U. that he had co-founded in 2021.[13][14]
Personal life
editIn 2008, Michel married Monika Vollmer, with whom he has two children. He resides in Solothurn, Switzerland.
References
edit- ^ "Ratsmitglied ansehen". Federal Assembly. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
- ^ "Michel Simon - Parlament - Kanton Solothurn". so.ch. Retrieved 2023-10-23.
- ^ Karpf, Raphael (2023-10-22). "Simon Michel ist neuer FDP-Nationalrat". Solothurner Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 2023-10-23.
- ^ "Die Ergebnisse des Wahlsonntags: Top-Unternehmer Simon Michel schafft es nach Bern, SVP legt massiv zu, Grüne stürzen ab". Handelszeitung (in Swiss High German). Retrieved 2023-10-23.
- ^ "Simon Michel, Ypsomed Holding AG: Profile and Biography". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2023-10-23.
- ^ "Willy Michel". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-10-23.
- ^ "Bilanz 300 Reichste 2022: Familie Michel | BILANZ". Handelszeitung (in Swiss High German). Retrieved 2023-10-23.
- ^ "Über mich". Simon Michel in den Nationalrat (in German). Retrieved 2024-04-04.
- ^ LinkedIn profile of Simon Michel
- ^ "Ratsmitglied ansehen". Federal Assembly. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
- ^ Karpf, Raphael (2023-10-23). "Kantonsrat Solothurn: Simon Michel will noch nicht zurücktreten". Solothurner Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 2023-10-23.
- ^ "Ratsmitglied ansehen". Federal Assembly. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
- ^ "Simon Michel will Mister Bilaterale werden". Tages-Anzeiger (in German). 2024-07-04. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
- ^ philipp.eng@be-visible.ch (2024-07-05). ""Er will Mister Bilaterale werden"". Simon Michel (in Swiss High German). Retrieved 2024-07-05.