Gilles Marchand succeeds Roger de Weck

According to the announcement, the members of the Board of Directors have made a choice that guarantees stability in the upheaval of the media: In view of Gilles Marchand's personality, track record, qualifications and experience, they have, in consultation with the designated Chairman Jean-Michel Cina, dispensed with an invitation to tender.

Marchand came to the helm of French-speaking Swiss television in 2001 at the age of 38; since the convergence of radio, TV and online in 2010, he has led the RTS corporate unit with great success. As a manager and personality in the media industry, he has made a name for himself beyond Switzerland. As Deputy Director General, his responsibilities include cultivating SRG's foreign relations and representing the company at the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), TV5 Monde, Euronews and other organizations. He is president of the Francophone Service Public Media Association (MFP) and of the important "Prix Italia" broadcasting prize, as well as a member of the strategic advisory board of the University of Geneva. The Federal Council appointed Marchand ad personam to the Federal Media Commission. Marchand, a sociologist who studied at the University of Geneva, recently published his thoughts on the public service in the book "Médias publics et société numérique" (2016).

The succession of 63-year-old Roger de Weck has thus been arranged as planned. De Weck, who will reach normal retirement age in 2018, will hand over the baton on October 1, 2017, after around seven years in office. The Board of Directors acknowledges the strong performance of the CEO to date, who has vigorously modernized the company and its offering, as well as effectively representing the public service - something he will continue to do until the handover in just under a year's time.

Viktor Baumeler, Chairman of the Board of Directors: "In Gilles Marchand, we have been able to recruit a proven leader for this challenging task. With his management experience as Director of RTS, Deputy Director General and member of the SRG Executive Board, he is ideally qualified. SRG is optimally positioned for the next stages."

Gilles Marchand in a statement: "After 15 years in French-speaking Switzerland, I am completely committed to SRG and its offering in four languages. Our diverse country needs a public service of good quality, and in times of the digital revolution, stability in leadership is all the more important. I make myself available to the Delegates' Meeting, the Board of Directors and the company in order to master challenges together. If the delegates approve my election, I will prepare intensively for the new task."

Roger de Weck, Director General of SRG: "In the upheaval of the media, a generational change is important. My attitude is to pass the baton on to proven hands a little sooner rather than a little later: Gilles Marchand has always impressed me anew since we started working together."