A new governance
Following the cantonal elections of April 2023, the State Council in its new composition, proceeded on 9 May 2023 with the distribution of departments for the 2023-2028 legislature. Genève Aéroport is now placed under the supervision of the Department of Finance, Human Resources and External Affairs (DF), chaired by Mrs Nathalie Fontanet. This responsibility was entrusted to the Department of Infrastructure (DI) during the previous legislature.
On 13 December 2023, in accordance with the Act on the Organisation of Public Law Institutions (LOIDP), the Council of State began the renewal of the board of directors and foundations under public law institutions and official commissions for the period from 1 February 2024 to 31 January 2029. For Genève Aéroport, Mr Christian Lüscher was appointed as chairman. The State Council also proceeded with the appointment of the other members of the Board of Directors in application of the new Article 15A LOIDP, which stipulates that gender parity must be achieved within each council, with at least 40 % of the underrepresented sex.
This new composition includes the three staff representatives elected at the end of the electoral process open from September to November 2023.
At the same time, elections were also held for members of the staff Advisory Commission (Compers) and members of the Appeals Commission for the period running from 1 February 2024 to 31 January 2029.
Participation in these elections organised by the HR Department and the Legal Affairs Department exceeded 54 %.
Members of the Board of Directors
President of the Board of Directors Members appointed by the Grand Council Members appointed by the Council of State Members appointed from the administrative councils of the two Geneva municipalities containing the noise zones of the airport platform, appointed by the Council of State | Member of the Grand-Saconnex Administrative Council Member of the Meyrin Administrative Council Members appointed by the Council of State, on the proposal of the Conference of Ministers of the Economy Western Switzerland Member appointed by the Council of State, on the proposal of the Presidents of the General Councils of the neighbouring French departments Members elected by the employees Representative appointed by the Council of State in an advisory capacity |
Members of the executive management
| Chief Executive Officer André Schneider Head of Communication Sandy Bouchat Chief Technology Officer Massimo Gentile Chief Commercial Officer Pierre Germain Replaced from 1 July Kristina Mees Chief Technical Officer Philippe Moraga | Head of Environment and Sustainable Development Giovanni Russo Chief Human resources Officer Susanna Swann Chief Financial Officer Aline Vaglio General Secretary and Legal Affairs |
Appointment of the future CEO and new Sales and Development Director
A few weeks earlier, on 16 November 2023, the current Board of Directors, appointed its next CEO in the person of Gilles Rufenacht at the end of a long selection procedure. Currently Director of the Hirslanden Clinics in Geneva, Gilles Rufenacht is also president of the Geneva Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services (CCIG). The new CEO will take office in autumn 2024, the day after the retirement of André Schneider, who has been CEO since 2016. On 1 July 2023, Mrs Kristina Mees joined the General Management as Sales and Development Director. She succeeds Pierre Germain, appointed Senior Executive Advisor for the CEO until his professional retirement in the summer of 2024. Pierre Germain will have devoted more than thirty professional years to the development and influence of Genève Aéroport.
New legislation
On 1 September 2023, the new Federal Data Protection Act (nFADP) entered into force. This legislation will have implications on Geneva cantonal regulations (LIPAD) and the internal regulations of Genève Aéroport in this area.
IT security
Like many public or private Swiss companies, Genève Aéroport was faced in 2023 with an increase in the risks associated with cyber attacks. These were dealt with by specialist teams and integrated into processes and procedures.
PSIA: appeal against the modification of the operating regulations
On 10 January 2023, some 24 municipalities, 24 associations, parties and several individuals filed an appeal before the Federal Administrative Court (FAC) against FOCA’s 17 November 2022 decision approving changes to the operating regulations of Genève Aéroport.
On 2 September 2019, Genève Aéroport filed with the FOCA a request for modification of its operating regulations concerning, on the one hand, the establishment of a quota system for flights scheduled before 22 : 00 but taking off after this schedule and, on the other hand, the possibility of planning three long-haul flights after 22:00. At the same time, Genève Aéroport had submitted the new noise curves definitively setting the maximum impact of noise beyond 2022.
On 4 December 2023, the Federal Administrative Court granted Genève Aéroport’s request for partial lifting of the suspensive effect for the implementation of the quota system. The FAC judges that the required quota measure is adequate and capable of achieving the goals pursued by Genève Aéroport namely to allow for the immediate implementation at the end of a transition period of protection measures against noise by limiting late take-offs after 22 : 00.