Eric Maire

I was born in Switzerland, with part of my childhood and adolescence spent in Hong Kong and Singapore. I studied mechanical and computer engineering in Switzerland. My interest in cultural discovery has led me to explore over 50 countries around the world, both professionally and privately.

For over 26 years, I have been a professional independent director, with certainly at least 50 positions held. In 2023, I am a member of more than 20 boards of directors in Switzerland, Africa, Europe and the USA. I advocate the professionalization of independent directors for SMEs and SMIs, in order to meet today's growing challenges. My core business is the installation of a "Generative Governance" of responsible values and prosperity within boards of directors for all types of structure.

I've been a coach and a mentor for over 20 years, coaching board members and executives on corporate management techniques, governance and strategy, but I can also be a listening ear to talk, exchange and guide them through their personal feelings about their role and the emotional weight of the challenges and responsibilities involved.

Coaching and mentoring board members and executives.

Crisis support for companies, board members and executives.

Take on long-term independent board mandates for all types of companies.

Governance training for board members and executives. Standard individual or group training, or customized in-company training

Corporate strategy, and definition of long-term objectives with shareholders.

Board diagnostics.

Risk analysis for boards of directors.

Install a tool to measure board performance, KPI and KVI.

Install the rules and management tools of a board of directors, including conflict of interest management.

Set up a Shadow Board or Advisory Board with all the contracting staff.

Set up or restructure a board of directors.

Recruit one or more board members using our governance matrix.

Implementing prosperity-generating governance.

Company formation.

Transferring a company to Switzerland from abroad.

Company closures.

Company development.

Financing strategies.

Advice on changes of shareholder or transformation (capital increase/decrease, change of canton, etc.).

Shareholders' agreement.

Support during M&A transactions as an independent director, or to defend the interests of one or more shareholders.

Speaker and content creator in the field of governance.

1975 - 1982: Teacher training colleges in Hong Kong and Singapore.

1982 - 1986: Watchmaking mechanic at Tech in La Chaux-de-Fonds.

1986 - 1988: Computer technician.

1989 - 1994: Service engineer at Thermo Electron (80% of time abroad).

1994 - 1998: Head of after-sales division at Thermo Electron.

1998 - 2001: Self-employed in business and IT consulting.

2001 - 2005: Founder of IBS SA - IT solutions and management consulting.

2005 - 2011: Project Director, Economic Development, Canton of Vaud.

2005 - Today: Independent consultant in corporate management and governance.

2018 - Today: Founder of Swissawa Sàrl, the only firm in French-speaking Switzerland providing services exclusively dedicated to the board of directors.