"Responsibility not sought"

Edgar C. Britschgi, Chairman & CEO Young & Rubicam Switzerland, has been elected President of the Swiss-England Chamber of Commerce.WW: What led to this election? Edgar C. Britschgi: Because our parent company WPP is a British company, some of the agencies have been members of the British Swiss Chamber of Commerce for a long time. When I came back from abroad and joined AY&R, I "inherited" the company membership. And because I usually tackle things the right way or not at all, I soon became Head of the Marketing Committee, then Councillor and since September 1, President of the BSCC. I didn't seek out this responsibility, but I didn't avoid it either.WW: What does this chamber do? Britschgi: The BSCC is the official Swiss-UK Chamber of Commerce, based in Zurich and London. It was founded in 1920 to promote bilateral business relations. Today, the BSCC is one of the most important chambers of commerce and offers its members a wide range of services and advice.WW: Who is a member? Britschgi: Members are companies that maintain business relations in both countries or are planning to do so. These include banks, insurance companies, manufacturing and trading companies, as well as consultants, lawyers, auditing companies and communications agencies. They all benefit from an excellent network and events in the individual chapters. WW: Concrete benefits?Britschgi: In addition to the services for members, the Chamber of Commerce is committed to breaking down any barriers, harmonizing interpretations of laws and smoothing out unevenness in regulations. Members are also increasingly making use of the BSCC's relations with the EU. We maintain active relationships with government agencies, parliamentarians, embassies and business organizations in both countries. Interview: Andreas Panzeri