Thomas Odermatt: New ZSPR President in Lucerne
At its annual general meeting on May 5, 2026, the Central Switzerland Public Relations Association elected Thomas Odermatt as its new president. The communications expert succeeds Olivier Burger and is driving the association’s strategic realignment.
New ZSPR President After Seven Years of Continuity
Thomas Odermatt, a proven expert in strategic communication, is taking over as chair of the Central Swiss Public Relations Association (ZSPR)—and thus assuming the role of the new ZSPR president. The election took place at the general meeting on May 5, 2026, which was held at VBL in Lucerne. Odermatt succeeds Olivier Burger, who stepped down after eleven years on the board—seven of them as president. As Head of Communications at the Central Switzerland Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHZ), Odermatt brings extensive practical experience to the role; he also serves as a lecturer in communication management and as a moderator.
New Executive Board Appointed
In addition to the change in the Executive Board, there was another personnel change: Beatrice Brenner stepped down after seven years on the board. Simone Burgener, spokesperson and senior communications manager at the Emmi Group, was elected as a new member. The incumbent board members Manuel Huber, managing owner of Huber Kommunikation, and Philipp Scharpf, public affairs delegate at Swisscom, were re-elected to their positions.
Strategic Realignment by the New ZSPR President
Odermatt outlines the challenges facing the association: «Artificial intelligence, social media, accelerated decision-making processes, and increasing polarization are fundamentally changing the demands placed on communication. Today, it is a central leadership task.» Against this backdrop, the ZSPR states that it is undergoing a strategic transformation process. A project group consisting of the executive board and members is actively driving this development forward, according to Odermatt: «So that we remain relevant to our members, partner organizations, and the media in the future as well.»
The ZSPR positions itself as a center of expertise and network for holistic communication in Central Switzerland. As a regional chapter of pr suisse, it is firmly rooted in the region and integrated into the national network. The association has about 100 members and was founded in 1965. It is aimed at professionals and organizations that use or are responsible for strategic communication, as well as those just starting their careers.
Next event in June 2026
As a first step into this new era, the ZSPR is announcing a digital event for June 16, 2026. Under the title «When Leaders Break the Mold—Crisis Communication Under Pressure,» Sereina Schmidt will demonstrate how communications professionals can maintain control under pressure and empower leadership teams to act with confidence. For more information about the event and ZSPR membership, visit www.zspr.ch retrievable.
