Bernhard S. - CEO

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Gommiswald, Switzerland

Experience

Feb 2025 - Present

9 months

Consultant

Freelancer

Acting as managing director for KIBAG Airfield Construction AG, handling claims, warranties, and insurance cases for EMAS systems in Switzerland, Germany, and Brazil
Managing tax refund processes in Brazil
Sitting on the steering committee for a factory construction in Burkina Faso for Gebana, Zurich
Providing various consultancy services related to contracts and construction

Jan 2020 - Jan 2025

5 years 1 month

Zürich, Switzerland

Managing Director

KIBAG Airfield Construction AG

Establishing KIBAG Brasil in Brazil for the construction of emergency arrest systems (EMAS) for runways
Acquiring and overseeing the construction of two EMAS systems at Congonhas Airport, São Paulo
Supervising development of a new surface coating for EMAS systems with FAA approval
Overseeing warranty services in Germany, Switzerland, and Brazil, and managing arbitration proceedings in Sweden
Handling legal cases in Brazil (tax and labor)
Initiating the liquidation of KIBAG Airfield Construction AG in 2024

Jan 2018 - Dec 2020

3 years

Consultant

Freelancer

Conducting a risk analysis for establishing international business for KIBAG, Zurich as a basis for the board of directors
Providing consultancy and construction supervision for legal hemp production in Embrach for Herbaretium, Zurich

Jan 2017 - Dec 2018

2 years

Baar, Switzerland

CEO, Board Member of ILF Consulting Engineers International and ILF Nigeria

ILF Consulting Engineers AG, Swiss Holding GmbH

Acting as regional director for the ILF Group in Africa, Central Asia and Southeast Asia and serving on the Group Management Board
Establishing new companies and branches in India, Thailand, Laos, Kyrgyzstan and Ghana
Realigning the acquisition strategy
Acquiring major projects such as the Silk Road Initiative, the Russia-India pipeline and the Iran-India pipeline

Jan 2013 - Dec 2016

4 years

Baar, Switzerland

Managing Director

ILF Consulting Engineers AG

Leading subsidiaries of the ILF Baar group with revenue of around CHF 95 million and 450 employees in Russia, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, Nigeria and Iraq
Restructuring the Baar group into a holding
Founding and establishing new companies in Iraq and Italy
Leading and coaching local management teams, rectifying financial statements and contracts, and developing strategy
Negotiating old claims of USD 5 million in Uzbekistan

Jan 2013 - Dec 2013

1 year

Sabbatical

Three-month break for professional reorientation and managing personal matters

Jan 2003 - Dec 2013

11 years

Bern, Switzerland

Technical Director for Foreign Operations and Board Member at IAV, Kieswerk BRAVUR and TUBAU

Marti Holding AG

Structuring and managing foreign subsidiaries in Iceland, Norway, Slovakia, Ukraine, Spain and India
Leading acquisition negotiations with banks and sellers for the acquisitions of IAV in Iceland, Vahostav and Kieswerk BRAVUR in Slovakia
Defining business and acquisition strategy in coordination with local management
Optimizing operational processes, including leading balance sheet and budget meetings with CEOs and CFOs
Acquiring major projects and negotiating contracts, including a road tunnel in Iceland (CHF 50 million), a rail tunnel in Norway (CHF 60 million) and remediation of special waste landfills in Kölliken (CHF 120 million) and Bonfol (CHF 50 million) in Switzerland
Launching and executing new business areas such as a BOT car park in Olten and a hotel and flight simulator project in Reykjavik as investor and general contractor

Jan 1999 - Dec 2003

5 years

Bern, Switzerland

Site Manager for the Lötschberg Base Tunnel

MARTI Tunnelbau AG

Serving as overall site manager for the construction of 24 km of rail tunnel on the south side of the Lötschberg using two hard-rock tunnel boring machines (d = 9.80 m), project value CHF 550 million

Jan 1989 - Dec 1995

7 years

External Collaborator

Institute for Construction Planning and Construction Operations and Institute for Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering,

Collaborated at the Institute for Construction Planning and Construction Operations (Prof. R. Fechtig) and the Institute for Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering (Prof. Lang), delivering monthly colloquia for 7th and 8th semester students

Jan 1988 - Dec 1999

12 years

Zürich, Switzerland

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Emch+Berger Engineering Company AG

Served as overall project manager for the underground Regionalbahnhof Potsdamer Platz and Lenné-Dreieck tunnel projects (1993–1999), acting as client’s representative for Deutsche Bahn AG from 1995 and managing over 25 planning offices, experts, consultants and contractors
Led the special foundation department (1991–1994)
Managed various specialized geotechnical projects (1988–1991) such as slurry walls, anchored sheet piles, piling foundations, underpinning (jet grouting), dewatering, anchored underwater concrete slabs, cut-and-cover construction and loose rock tunneling with pipe umbrella and jetting methods

Jan 1985 - Dec 1988

4 years

Assistant

Institute of Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, ETH Zürich

Performed numerical simulations of groundwater flow under dams and around excavations
Conducted a one-year research deployment in Niger, performing field investigations and experiments to enhance groundwater recharge in wadis

Summary

Over 30 years of experience in senior positions in national and international construction and engineering companies (Asia, Africa, Central Asia, Nordic countries, South America). Many years serving as CEO, member of international executive boards, and overall manager of major infrastructure projects.

Leader with a clear strategic vision, strong execution skills, and a pronounced entrepreneurial spirit. Known as a motivator and driving force, even in complex and demanding situations. I am a person with strong initiative, who drives things forward and is open to change.