Executive Board
Composition of the Executive Board (EB)
The CEO and the other members of the EB are appointed and dismissed by the BoD. The BoD is supported by the NCC, which prepares all relevant decisions of the BoD in relation to the nomination of the CEO and the other members of the EB and submits proposals and recommendations to the BoD.
As at 31 December 2024, the EB was composed as follows:
The following table provides an overview of SoftwareOne’s Executive Board:
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External mandates |
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Name |
Nationality |
Born |
Function |
Appointment |
Education |
listed |
non-listed |
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Raphael Erb 1) |
Swiss |
1980 |
Chief Executive Officer |
2024 |
Business administration |
0 |
0 |
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Rodolfo J. Savitzky |
Mexican, Swiss |
1962 |
Chief Financial Officer |
2022 |
Engineering, finance and economics, MBA |
2 |
0 |
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Julia Braun |
Austrian |
1973 |
Chief Human Resources Officer |
2022 |
Human Resources, MBA |
0 |
0 |
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Oliver Berchtold 2) |
Swiss |
1983 |
President Software&Cloud |
2024 |
Business administration |
0 |
1 |
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Brian Duffy 3) |
Irish |
1980 |
Chief Executive Officer |
2023 |
Law, LL.M. |
0 |
0 |
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Bernd Schlotter 4) |
American |
1964 |
President Software&Cloud |
2021 |
Mechanical Engineering, MBA |
0 |
0 |
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Rohit Nagarajan 5) |
Singaporean |
1979 |
Chief Revenue Officer |
2024 |
Computer engineering, MBA |
0 |
0 |
1) Since November 2024.
2) Since December 2024.
3) Until October 2024.
4) Until November 2024
5) Until June 2024.
Management changes
SoftwareOne has promoted Raphael Erb, a longstanding SoftwareOne executive with a successful career spanning more than 25 years, to CEO. Raphael Erb succeeds Brian Duffy, who left SoftwareOne in November 2024. Raphael previously held several leadership roles at the company, notably President Asia-Pacific, Head of Services in the German-speaking markets, country lead for Switzerland and Singapore and, most recently, Chief Revenue Officer and member of the Executive Board.
Oliver Berchtold succeeded Bernd Schlotter as President Software and Cloud in December 2024. Oliver also looks back at an extensive career at SoftwareOne, having joined the company in 2004. His previous appointments include Transition and Transformation Leader, which he held as a dual role alongside the Regional Services Lead for the DACH region.
Brian Duffy, former CEO, Bernd Schlotter, former President Software and Cloud, and Rohit Nagarajan, former Chief Revenue Officer, left SoftwareOne in the course of 2024.
Compensation of the Executive Board
The shareholders’ meeting votes annually on the proposals of the BoD in relation to the maximum aggregate compensation of the EB for the next business year (see art. 19 of the AoI). More details on compensation and post-employment benefits of the EB can be found in the Compensation Report.
Members of the EB may only be granted loans and credits up to a maximum amount of CHF 1,000,000 at market-based conditions and in compliance with the applicable rules of abstention.
Responsibilities
The BoD has delegated the operational management of the company entirely to the CEO within the limits permitted by law and subject to the powers and duties remaining with the BoD under the OrgR.
Within the operational management delegated to the CEO pursuant to the OrgR, the CEO is responsible for SoftwareOne’s daily business operations and represents the company in these matters, all in accordance with the law, the AoI, the OrgR as well as the strategies, policies and guidelines set by the BoD. The CEO is responsible for the implementation of BoD resolutions and the supervision of all management levels at the company. The CEO acts as the head of the EB.
Within the EB, the CEO is the primary point of contact for the Chair and the other members of the BoD. The CEO represents and coordinates the views of the EB vis-à-vis the BoD. In case of matters requiring approval by the BoD as a matter of law, the AoI or the OrgR, the CEO submits the corresponding proposals to the BoD. The CEO provides information to the other members of the EB concerning the resolutions and proposals of the BoD. The CEO ensures that resolutions are implemented and that proposals are considered. The CEO represents the group both internally and externally.
Statutory provisions regarding external mandates
According to Art. 21 of the AoI, no member of the EB may hold more than one mandate in a listed company or more than three mandates in non-listed companies. A member who, because of the acceptance of a mandate in an entity outside the SoftwareOne Group, no longer complies with this provision must, until the ordinary date of resignation from an excess mandate, but within 12 months from election, reduce the number of their mandates to the number permitted under this provision. For a description of how SoftwareOne defines mandates and for transitional provisions of newly appointed EB members, please refer to the section Availability and statutory provisions regarding external mandates above.
Any mandate of a member of the EB in a legal entity outside of SoftwareOne is subject to prior approval by the BoD, or the NCC, where delegated.
All members of the EB, save Rodolfo Savitzky, remained within the statutory maximum number of outside mandates in listed and non-listed companies and organisations. Rodolfo Savitzky will reduce the excess mandate within 12 months of his appointment to his second external mandate.
Management contracts
As at 31 December 2024, the company has not entered into any management contracts with third parties.
Composition of the EB
The EB meets the legal representation requirements as both genders are duly represented with at least 20% representation.