3. Board of Directors

3.1/3.2 Members of the Board of Directors

At the end of 2022, the Board of Directors was composed of six non-executive, independent members. Geberit AG has determined a diverse required set of competencies for the members of its Board of Directors that reflects strategic requirements, the company’s targets, geographical presence and corporate culture. The Board of Directors should be diverse in every respect, i.e. in terms of gender, nationality, geographical/regional experience and business experience. The members of the Board of Directors have in-depth knowledge in their respective areas of expertise. Together, they ensure that the Board of Directors has all the necessary competencies. The current composition of the Board of Directors covers the following most important competencies in particular:

In connection with the nomination of the Chairman and the members of the Board of Directors and of the committees, the Nomination and Compensation Committee determines the principles for the selection of candidates, prepares the selection in accordance with these criteria and submits corresponding proposals to the Board of Directors.

The Nomination and Compensation Committee reviews on an annual basis the independence of the members of the Board of Directors and the committees and presents its assessment to the Board of Directors which shall decide conclusively. The criteria for assessing independence are those set out in the Swiss Code of Best Practice for Corporate Governance. Accordingly, non-executive members of the Board of Directors are deemed to be independent if they have never been members of the Executive Board, or were members thereof more than three years ago, and have no or comparatively minor business relations with the company. No member of the Board of Directors was a member of any Management Board of a Geberit Group company in the three years preceding the reporting period. Apart from their Board of Directors’ mandate, no member of the Board of Directors has any significant business relations with the Geberit Group.

Below, roles in governance bodies and supervisory boards of important Swiss and foreign corporations, institutions and foundations, plus ongoing management and advisory roles at important Swiss and foreign interest groups are disclosed for each member of the Board of Directors in line with the directives on information for corporate governance at SIX Exchange Regulation AG. 

Albert M. Baehny (1952)

• Non-executive, independent Chairman of the Board of Directors since 2015 (Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors from 2011 to 2014), member of the Board of Directors since 2011
• Swiss citizen
• Chairman of the Board of Directors Lonza Group AG, Basel (CH); Member of the Board of Directors Investis Holding SA, Zurich (CH)

Albert M. Baehny graduated with a degree in biology from the University of Fribourg (CH). In 1979, he started his career in the research department of Serono-Hypolab. His further career comprised various marketing, sales, strategic planning and global management positions with Dow Chemical Europe (1981–1993), Ciba-Geigy/Ciba SC (1994–2000), Vantico (2000–2001) and Wacker Chemie (2001–2002). For more than 20 years, Albert M. Baehny gathered relevant knowledge and expertise with global business responsibility. Before joining Geberit, he was Senior Vice President of Wacker Specialties. At Geberit he was Head of Group Executive Area Marketing and Sales Europe from 2003 to 2004. From 2005 until the end of 2014, Albert M. Baehny was Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Geberit Group. He has been Chairman of the Board of Directors since 2011. From November 2019 to October 2020, he was also Chief Executive Officer (CEO) a.i. at Lonza.

Eunice Zehnder-Lai (1967)

• Vice Chair of the Board of Directors since 2021; non-executive, independent member of the Board of Directors since 2017
• Citizen of Switzerland and Hong Kong
• Member of the Board of Directors DKSH Holding AG, Zurich (CH); Member of the Board of Directors Julius Bär Group Ltd./Julius Bär & Co. Ltd., Zurich (CH); various other mandates as independent trustee of non-profit organisations

Eunice Zehnder-Lai holds a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School (US) and a Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University (US). From 2014 until the end of November 2018, she was CEO of IPM Institut für Persönlichkeitsorientiertes Management, a firm headquartered in Pfäffikon (CH) that offers solutions aimed at enhancing the efficiency of organisations with customers, teams and employees in companies. Before joining IPM, she spent almost 20 years working in the finance industry for LGT Capital Partners, Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch in New York, London, Hong Kong and Switzerland. She worked in asset management, private wealth management and corporate finance, as well as for Procter & Gamble in marketing and brand management.

Thomas Bachmann (1959)

• Non-executive, independent member of the Board of Directors since 2021
• Swiss citizen
• Various mandates as independent board member as well as activity as management consultant

Thomas Bachmann studied mechanical engineering at Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH) in Burgdorf (CH) and completed his Executive MBA at the IMD Business School in Lausanne (CH). Following his studies, he took on various sales and marketing positions at Rieter from 1985 on, both in the US and Asian markets and also on a global scale. He was then responsible for a business unit at Rieter Textile Systems, before heading up the Corporate Planning & Development division on a Group level. From 2002 to 2004, he was at AFG Arbonia Forster as CEO responsible for the kitchens, refrigeration, profile systems and precision steel piping business areas. As CEO, he headed up the Tecan Group – an international manufacturer of laboratory automation products and analytics solutions – from 2005 to 2012. From 2013 to 2015, Thomas Bachmann was Executive President of the Bruker BioSpin Group, a provider of instruments for life science laboratories that is based in both Europe and the USA. During this time, he was also a member of the Supervisory Board at the Eppendorf Group from Hamburg (DE), a global market leader in the field of laboratory instruments and high-quality laboratory supplies. From 2015 to 2019, he headed up the Eppendorf Group as CEO. Since 2020, he has held various mandates as an independent board member and advises the management of a global leader in measurement instrumentation, services and solutions for industrial process engineering.

Felix R. Ehrat (1957)

• Non-executive, independent member of the Board of Directors since 2013
• Swiss citizen
• Chairman of the Board of Directors Globalance Bank AG, Zurich (CH); Member of the Board of Directors Idorsia AG, Allschwil (CH); Member of the Board of Directors Swiss Fintech AG (Loanboox), Zurich (CH); Member of the Board of Directors Hyos Invest Holding AG, Zurich (CH); Member of the Advisory Board Accenture, Zurich (CH)

Felix R. Ehrat received his doctorate of law from the University of Zurich (CH) in 1990, where he previously also received his law degree in 1982. He was admitted to practice as a lawyer in Switzerland in 1985. In 1986, he completed an LL.M. at the McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento (US). He has also completed a number of management training courses, including at Harvard University in Boston (US). From October 2011 to June 2018, he was Group General Counsel of Novartis and, from 1 January 2012, was a member of the Executive Committee of the Novartis Group, a company in which he held a number of other executive positions. Felix R. Ehrat was active as a leading practitioner of corporate, banking and mergers and acquisitions law, as well as an expert in corporate governance and arbitration. He started his career as an Associate with Bär & Karrer in Zurich (CH) in 1987, became Partner in 1992 and advanced to Senior Partner (2003–2011) and Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors (2007–2011) of the firm. During his career to date, Felix R. Ehrat was a chairman and member of various Boards of Directors at listed and non-listed companies, including a chairman and member of Board committees. Furthermore, he has held posts in major business organisations, e.g. member of the board at economiesuisse (2013–2015), Chairman of SwissHoldings (2015–2017) and member of the think tank Avenir Suisse (Member of the Board of Trustees [2014–2019]). He is a lecturer at the University of St. Gallen (CH) and Member of the Board of Trustees at the Law and Economics Foundation St. Gallen and the UZH Foundation (University of Zurich).

Werner Karlen (1967)

• Non-executive, independent member of the Board of Directors since 2020
• Swiss citizen
• CEO Fr. Sauter AG, Basel (CH)
• Member of the Board of Directors Frutiger Unternehmungen AG, Thun (CH)

Werner Karlen studied Industrial Management and Manufacturing (Dipl. Ing. ETH) at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich (CH) and then completed his doctorate (Dr. oec. HSG) at the University of St. Gallen (CH). Following his studies, he started his career as a sales engineer at ABB Kraftwerke AG in Baden (CH) and was Project Manager at McKinsey & Company in Zurich (CH) from 1996 to 2000. He then took over as COO (production, purchasing, finances, foreign subsidiaries) at Biella-Neher AG in Brügg (CH). From 2002 to 2009, he was COO at Phoenix Mecano AG in Kloten (CH) and, from 2010 to 2014, CEO (and member of the Board of Directors in 2015/2016) at Schulthess Group AG in Bubikon (CH).

Bernadette Koch (1968)

• Non-executive, independent member of the Board of Directors since 2019
• Swiss citizen
• Member of the Board of Directors Mobimo Holding AG, Lucerne (CH); Member of the Board of Directors Swiss Post AG, Bern (CH); Member of the Board of Directors PostFinance AG, Bern (CH); Member of the Board of Directors Energie Oberkirch AG, Oberkirch (CH)

Bernadette Koch is a graduate business economist and a certified public accountant, and completed a Master of Advanced Studies in Philosophy and Management at the University of Lucerne (CH). She has over 25 years of experience in auditing and financial reporting, which she acquired at EY Switzerland. As Global Client Service Partner, she was responsible for the auditing mandates of national and international companies. Furthermore, she brings a wide range of experience from her role as the Talent Officer of EY Assurance Switzerland and as a member of the Management Committee from EY Switzerland’s Auditing division. She worked for EY until 2018. Today, Bernadette Koch shares her extensive experience as a Board of Directors member.

For former members of the Board of Directors who have left the Board during the past five years, please refer to the following links:

• Hartmut Reuter (Annual Report 2020, Business Report, Corporate Governance, 3. Board of Directors), left the Board on 14 April 2021
• Thomas M. Hübner (Annual Report 2018, Business Report, Corporate Governance, 3. Board of Directors), left the Board on 4 October 2019
• Jørgen Tang-Jensen (Annual Report 2018, Business Report, Corporate Governance, 3. Board of Directors), left the Board on 3 April 2019

3.3 Regulations in the Articles of Incorporation concerning the number of permissible activities in accordance with Art. 12 Para. 1 Clause 1 OaEC

Members of the Board of Directors may hold up to five mandates in profit-oriented legal entities and up to five mandates in non-profit-oriented legal entities or charitable legal entities outside the Geberit Group.

Mandates of a member of the Board of Directors in legal entities which are controlled by the company, or which control the company, as well as mandates held by such member in their capacity as a member of the Board of Directors of the company, or held by order and on behalf of the company or legal entities controlled by it, shall not count as mandates in legal entities outside the Geberit Group.

Mandates of a member of the Board of Directors of the company in legal entities outside the Geberit Group which are under common control, as well as mandates held by such member in their capacity as a member of the supreme governing body or of the group management of a legal entity outside the Geberit Group or held by order and on behalf of such legal entity or legal entities controlled by it, shall be deemed one mandate outside the Geberit Group.

Mandates held by a member of the Board of Directors in their main activity as a member of the group management of a legal entity outside the Geberit Group or held by order and on behalf of such legal entity or legal entities controlled by it, shall not count as mandates within the meaning of this provision.

Mandates in the sense of Art. 24 of the Articles of Incorporation (www.geberit.com/downloadcenter-en) are mandates in supreme governing bodies or in an advisory board of legal entities that are required to be recorded in the Commercial Register or in a corresponding foreign register.

The current Articles of Incorporation can be viewed online at www.geberit.com/downloadcenter-en.

3.4 Elections and terms of office

The term of office for a member of the Board of Directors is one year and ends at the closing of the following ordinary General Meeting. Members of the Board of Directors are elected on an individual basis. Re-election is possible.

In addition to the members of the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board of Directors is also elected by the General Meeting. The term of office for the Chairman of the Board of Directors is also one year and ends at the closing of the following ordinary General Meeting. Re-election is possible. If the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors is vacant, the Board of Directors is to appoint a new Chair of the Board of Directors from among its members for the remaining term of office.

The members of the Nomination and Compensation Committee are elected annually and on an individual basis by the General Meeting. Only members of the Board of Directors are eligible. Their term of office ends at the closing of the following ordinary General Meeting. Re-election is possible.

In accordance with the current Articles of Incorporation (www.geberit.com/downloadcenter-en), the members of the Board of Directors, Chairman of the Board of Directors and members of the Committees retire from their positions at the next ordinary General Meeting following their 70th birthday. At the ordinary General Meeting on 19 April 2023, a proposal will be submitted to increase this age limit to 75 in the Articles of Incorporation.

At the General Meeting on 13 April 2022, Eunice Zehnder-Lai (Chair), Thomas Bachmann and Werner Karlen were elected to the Nomination and Compensation Committee. The constitution subsequent to the General Meeting resulted in the following composition of the Audit Committee: Felix R. Ehrat (Chair), Werner Karlen, Bernadette Koch. Furthermore, Eunice Zehnder-Lai holds the office of Vice Chair of the Board of Directors.

The Chairman of the Board of Directors (provided that the shareholders approve the adjustment of the age limit in the Articles of Incorporation at the General Meeting on 19 April 2023) and all members of the Board of Directors will be standing for re-election for a further year at the ordinary General Meeting in 2023. The composition of the committees and the office of Vice Chair are otherwise to remain unchanged.

3.5 Internal organisational structure

The organisation of the Board of Directors is governed by law, the company’s Articles of Incorporation (www.geberit.com/downloadcenter-en) and the Organisational Regulations of the Board of Directors of Geberit AG (see also 3.6 Definition of areas of responsibility).

As a result of the entry into force of the OaEC on 1 January 2014 and in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation (www.geberit.com/downloadcenter-en), the Chairman of the Board of Directors and the members of the Nomination and Compensation Committee are each to be elected annually and on an individual basis by the General Meeting. After each ordinary General Meeting, the Board of Directors elects the Vice Chair from among its members, as well as the Chair of the Nomination and Compensation Committee and the Chair and the members of the Audit Committee.

The Board of Directors meets whenever business so requires, but at least four times a year generally for a half day to a day each (2022: nine meetings or telephone conferences). Each meeting that took place in 2022 lasted 3.9 hours on average, and each telephone conference 5 minutes. Meetings shall be chaired by the Chairman or, in the event of his incapacity, by the Vice Chair. The Board of Directors shall appoint a Secretary, who need not be a member of the Board of Directors. The Chairman of the Board of Directors may invite members of the Group Executive Board to attend meetings of the Board of Directors. During the reporting year, one or more members of the Group Executive Board took part in the nine meetings for the most part. The internal auditors did not take part in any meetings of the Board of Directors. None of the meetings involved the participation of external consultants or external auditors.

The Board of Directors shall be quorate if a majority of its members are present. Attendance can also be effected via telephone or electronic media. Resolutions are passed with the majority of votes cast. In the event of a tie, the Chairman shall have the casting vote.

The regular meetings of the Board of Directors and committees are scheduled early, so that as a rule all members participate in person or via telephone.

The participation rate for meetings of the Board of Directors in 2022 was 98%.

The Board of Directors has formed two committees composed exclusively of non-executive and independent Board members:

Nomination and Compensation Committee (NCC)

The compensation and nomination tasks and responsibilities are combined in this Committee.

The Nomination and Compensation Committee consists of three independent, non-executive members of the Board of Directors. The members of the Nomination and Compensation Committee are elected individually and annually by the ordinary General Meeting. The Chair of the Nomination and Compensation Committee is appointed by the Board of Directors. The Nomination and Compensation Committee shall be quorate if a majority of its members are present. Resolutions are passed with the majority of votes cast. In the event of a tie, the Chair shall have the casting vote.

The members of the Nomination and Compensation Committee as of 31 December 2022 were Eunice Zehnder-Lai (Chair), Thomas Bachmann and Werner Karlen. The committee meets at least three times a year generally for a half day each (2022: three meetings). Each meeting that took place in 2022 lasted 1.3 hours on average. During the reporting year, one or more members of the Group Executive Board took part in the three meetings. The internal auditors did not take part in any meetings of the Nomination and Compensation Committee. None of the meetings involved the participation of external consultants or external auditors.

The participation rate for meetings of the Nomination and Compensation Committee in 2022 was 100%.

The Nomination and Compensation Committee supports the Board of Directors in fulfilling its duties specified by law and the Articles of Incorporation in the area of the compensation and personnel policy of the Geberit Group. The powers and duties of the Nomination and Compensation Committee are based on the following principles:

1. Preparation and periodical review of the Geberit Group’s compensation policy and principles and personnel policy, performance criteria related to compensation and periodical review of their implementation, as well as submission of the respective proposals and recommendations to the Board of Directors.
2. Preparation of all relevant decisions of the Board of Directors in relation to the nomination and compensation of the members of the Board of Directors and of the Group Executive Board, as well as submission of the respective proposals and recommendations to the Board of Directors.

The overall responsibility for the duties and competencies assigned to the Nomination and Compensation Committee remains with the Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors may delegate further powers and duties to the Nomination and Compensation Committee in respect of nomination, compensation and related matters.

The organisation, detailed responsibilities, functioning and reporting of the Nomination and Compensation Committee are stipulated in the Organisational Regulations for the Nomination and Compensation Committee (NCC) of the Board of Directors of Geberit AG.

Audit Committee (AC)

The Audit Committee consists of three independent, non-executive members of the Board of Directors. They are appointed annually by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors appoints a member of the Audit Committee as Chair. The Audit Committee shall be quorate if a majority of its members are present. Resolutions are passed with the majority of votes cast. The CEO and CFO as well as the internal and external auditors attend the meetings if necessary. In 2022, the CEO and CFO attended each meeting of the Audit Committee, at least in part. The internal auditors took part in all meetings, and the external auditors in two meetings. None of the meetings involved the participation of external consultants. Furthermore, the committee is entitled to hold meetings exclusively with representatives of the external as well as the internal auditors. The Audit Committee has direct access to the internal auditors and can obtain all the information it requires within the Geberit Group and consult the responsible employees.

As of 31 December 2022, the Audit Committee was composed of Felix R. Ehrat (Chair), Werner Karlen and Bernadette Koch. It meets at least twice a year, generally for a half day each (2022: six meetings). Each meeting that took place in 2022 lasted 3.3 hours on average, and each telephone conference 10 minutes.

The participation rate for meetings of the Audit Committee in 2022 was 100%.

The Audit Committee supports the Board of Directors in fulfilling its duties specified by law, in particular in the areas of financial control (supervision of the internal and external auditors and monitoring of financial reporting) and ultimate supervision of the persons entrusted with the management (internal control system). The Audit Committee determines the scope and planning of the internal audit and coordinates them with those of the external audit. For every meeting, the internal auditors provide a comprehensive report on all audits carried out and the measures to be implemented. The external auditors take part in two of the meetings. In the first meeting of the year, they present their report on the financial statements. The second meeting, which takes place in the third quarter, focuses on the planning of the upcoming audit of the financial statements and developments in the regulatory environment. The Audit Committee monitors the implementation of the conclusions of the audit. In addition, the Audit Committee assesses the functionality of the internal control system, including risk management (see also 3.7 Information and control instruments vis-à-vis the Group Executive Board). The Audit Committee supports the Board of Directors with corporate governance and compliance issues, monitors the relevant corporate governance and compliance aspects and develops them further. The overall responsibility for the duties and competencies assigned to the Audit Committee remains with the Board of Directors.

The organisation, detailed responsibilities, functioning and reporting of the Audit Committee are set out in the Organisational Regulations for the Audit Committee (AC) of the Board of Directors of Geberit AG.

The current Articles of Incorporation as well as the Organisational Regulations of the Board of Directors of Geberit AG (including the definition of areas of responsibility), the Nomination and Compensation Committee and the Audit Committee can be viewed online at www.geberit.com/downloadcenter-en.

3.6 Definition of areas of responsibility

Pursuant to Swiss Corporate Law and Art. 17 of the Articles of Incorporation (www.geberit.com/downloadcenter-en) at Geberit AG, the Board of Directors has the following non-transferable and irrevocable responsibilities:

• The ultimate management of the Company and the giving of the necessary directives
• The establishment of the organisation
• The structuring of the accounting system and the financial controls, as well as the financial planning
• The appointment and removal of the persons entrusted with the management and the representation
• The ultimate supervision of the persons entrusted with the management, in particular in view of compliance with the law, Articles of Incorporation, regulations and directives
• The preparation of the annual report and of the remuneration report as well as the preparation of the General Meeting and the implementation of its resolutions
• The notification of the judge in case of over indebtedness

The Board of Directors determines the strategic objectives and the general resources for achieving these, and decides on major business transactions. Further areas of responsibility of the Board of Directors are set out in the Organisational Regulations of the Board of Directors of Geberit AG and the Supplement to the Organisational Regulations.

To the extent legally permissible and in accordance with its Organisational Regulations of the Board of Directors of Geberit AG, the Board of Directors has assigned the operational management to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The individual duties assigned to the CEO are governed in particular by the Supplement to the Organisational Regulations. The CEO is authorised to further delegate powers to individual members of the Group Executive Board and/or to other executives of the Geberit Group.

The Group Executive Board is composed of the Chief Executive Officer and six other members. The members of the Group Executive Board are appointed by the Board of Directors based on the proposal of the Nomination and Compensation Committee.

The Articles of Incorporation and/or the Organisational Regulations of the Board of Directors of Geberit AG regulate the duties and powers of the Board of Directors as a governing body, the Chairman and the committees. The Organisational Regulations also define the rights and duties of the Group Executive Board, which are set forth in more detail in the Internal Regulations for the Group Executive Board. The Supplement to the Organisational Regulations contains a detailed list of the decision-making powers and Group management duties.

The current Articles of Incorporation as well as the Organisational Regulations of the Board of Directors of Geberit AG, the Nominations and Compensation Committee (NCC) and the Audit Committee (AC) can be viewed at www.geberit.com/downloadcenter-en.

3.7 Information and control instruments vis-à-vis the Group Executive Board

At every meeting of the Board of Directors, individual members of the Group Executive Board inform the Board of Directors of current business developments and major business transactions of the Group or Group companies. Between meetings, the Board of Directors is comprehensively informed in writing about current business developments and the company’s financial situation on a monthly basis. Essentially, this report contains key statements on the Group and market development, information and key figures on the Group sales and profit development (in January, April, July and October, it contains statements only on sales development and not on profit development), statements on sales development in the individual product lines and countries or regions as well as an analysis on the share price development. The more extensive quarterly report additionally contains the expectations of the operational management on the development of results until the end of the financial year, information on the development of the workforce and liquidity and on the investments made, the composition of the shareholders as well as market expectations in regard to the business development.

Furthermore, the Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer are in contact at regular intervals with respect to all major issues of corporate policy. Each member of the Board of Directors may individually demand information with respect to all matters of the Group or Group companies.

Based on the Organisational Regulations of the Board of Directors of Geberit AG and the Organisational Regulations for the Audit Committee (AC) of the Board of Directors, the Audit Committee has implemented a comprehensive system for monitoring and controlling the risks associated with the business activities. This process includes risk identification, analysis, control and reporting. Operationally, the Group Executive Board is responsible for controlling risk management. In addition, responsible persons are designated in the company for significant individual risks. These responsible parties decide on specific actions for risk mitigation and monitor their implementation. Every other year, the Internal Audit department issues a risk report for the attention of the Board of Directors. Significant risks are also constantly discussed in the meetings of the Group Executive Board and Board of Directors, which take place on a regular basis (see Risk management). For information on the management of financial risks, refer to Consolidated Financial Statements Geberit Group, Note 4. For information on other risks recorded in the reporting year and how they are dealt with, refer to Risk management.

The Internal Audit department at Geberit performs independent, objective auditing services in order to ensure that Geberit complies with applicable laws and internal directives and procedures. Functionally, the Internal Audit department reports to the Audit Committee. Administratively, the Internal Audit department reports to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO). The Audit Committee checks and approves the auditing plan from the Internal Audit department and significant changes made to it. The Internal Audit department reports to the Audit Committee at every meeting on completed audits and on the status of the implementation of findings and optimisation proposals of previous audits.

The Organisational Regulations of the Board of Directors of Geberit AG, the Organisational Regulations for the Nomination and Compensation Committee (NCC) and the Organisational Regulations for the Audit Committee (AC) can be viewed online at www.geberit.com/downloadcenter-en.