The high flyer
Hans Klaus has opened a branch office in Bern for Wirz Corporate and wants to be close to the political scene there.
Hans Klaus has opened a branch office for Wirz Corporate in Bern and wants to be close to politics there.his trademark is cowboy boots. "So old-fashioned that they're almost back in fashion," the creative minds at Wirz Advertising sometimes smile. Hans Klaus has the archaic foot tools for a confident appearance sent to him from his personal supplier in the USA. Somehow, the new man for Wirz in Zurich and Berne has to come to terms with the fact that he spent the most formative time of his life in the land of opportunity. Two days a week on a short trip somewhere in the world, then a whole year in Halifax and across America - that was Hans Klaus' workplace when he worked as a media spokesman for the former Swissair.
"At the center of power": this phrase also elicits a smile from Hans Klaus when he is asked about his time as an advisor to Federal Councillor Ruth Metzler. He had to be elected by the entire Federal Council and the job at the FDJP was actually a step up from Swissair. Being up close and personal with all the decisions - as well as on state visits to Africa, Asia and the USA - hardly made it any easier for the communications expert than it was for his boss when the Metzler era and its formula were demystified.
What now? "This situation was one of the most difficult I have ever experienced professionally." Continuing to communicate for Christoph Blocher in Bern "would not have been particularly credible". And going back to an ordinary company didn't seem very appealing. Hans Klaus finally found a new challenge at Wirz. "The creative spirit of the largest independent communications agency in Switzerland, successful advertising, a PR department with potential, a leading brand identity department, well-known clients from all sectors - it's a very exciting structure." And Klaus now feels challenged again.
It was his suggestion that Wirz Corporate could expand to Bern. "There's a lot going on in Bern in terms of communication, and we want to take advantage of that." Since January 20, 2005, the Wirz Corporate branch has been offering its expertise in the field of communication for politics, administration and companies from Bern and French-speaking Switzerland. The second key employee is Susanne Aebersold, former spokesperson and head of national referendum campaigns for the FDJP. "We want to offer less lobbying and public affairs in the traditional sense, but see our strengths in awareness-raising and referendum campaigns as well as advising politicians and the administration."
For the time being, the small branch office is mainly occupied during session times and is located on Hallerstrasse in a shared office with the AMG law practice of Ruth Metzler's husband Lukas. The lawyers enjoy reciprocal rights for their Zurich branch at Wirz on Üetlibergstrasse. Klaus, who is responsible for Wirz's Bern office, will also be offering his experience in crisis communication and crisis management at Wirz Corporate's headquarters.
In the area of crisis management, Klaus has developed an audit tool for Wirz that stands out because of its "somewhat cheeky nature. We don't talk down to our customers, but confront them with their problems and warn them where necessary." Especially in a crisis, such an "unvarnished second opinion" is sometimes needed.
Hans Klaus came into the consulting business via a winding path. He started out as a textile merchant. He was soon managing PR and advertising for a large fashion company. After professional detours to England and the USA, he switched completely to PR. In a small agency on Lake Zurich, the qualified PR consultant and marketing planner managed mandates for luxury goods and tourism. He later worked for the SIS financial group. Klaus soon became Head of Public Relations and worked for the clearing company for almost a year at SICOVAM on the Paris stock exchange. While working on registered shares, Klaus, who had since trained in the world of finance, met the CFO of Swissair.
His first job at the national airline in 1994 was in charge of PR for a spin-off of the IT subsidiary Swissair Information Systems and he later headed up communications for all Swissair Services operations such as ground services, technology, aircraft leasing and associated companies. This earned him a call to join Beatrice Tschanz's legendary press team.
When it happened with Halifax, there was not much discussion. The tasks were distributed at a hastily convened morning meeting and Klaus had to fly off to Canada just two hours later. There and in the USA, he was responsible for crisis communication at Swiss-
air for the whole of North America and occasionally accompanied relatives to the crash site. "That's when I got to know the American dimensions of PR. And all this 'on the job'," he recalls. Back in Zurich, Klaus was appointed media spokesman for Swissair Airline and looked after CEO Jeff Katz before applying for the position of press officer for Federal Councillor Ruth Metzler six months before the grounding.
He really enjoyed working in the team of the youngest female Federal Councillor. Klaus is convinced that Ruth Metzler's merits will also be better appreciated by her opponents in a few years' time. The political "big picture" would not have allowed an objective assessment of the Federal Councillor at the time. Klaus considers himself politically liberal. He wants to work as a PR consultant for various political colors and not actively participate in a party. However, he could well imagine taking up a political office one day.
The new member of the Wirz Corporate Executive Board lives with a consulting group manager from Wirz Advertising. Private life is much easier today than in the Swissair days, when traveling was the order of the day. But he still flies, now "hopefully more in gliders again", because Hans Klaus is also a passionate hobby pilot.
Feels challenged again at Wirz Corporate: Communications expert Hans Klaus.
Andreas Panzeri
"At the center of power": this phrase also elicits a smile from Hans Klaus when he is asked about his time as an advisor to Federal Councillor Ruth Metzler. He had to be elected by the entire Federal Council and the job at the FDJP was actually a step up from Swissair. Being up close and personal with all the decisions - as well as on state visits to Africa, Asia and the USA - hardly made it any easier for the communications expert than it was for his boss when the Metzler era and its formula were demystified.
What now? "This situation was one of the most difficult I have ever experienced professionally." Continuing to communicate for Christoph Blocher in Bern "would not have been particularly credible". And going back to an ordinary company didn't seem very appealing. Hans Klaus finally found a new challenge at Wirz. "The creative spirit of the largest independent communications agency in Switzerland, successful advertising, a PR department with potential, a leading brand identity department, well-known clients from all sectors - it's a very exciting structure." And Klaus now feels challenged again.
It was his suggestion that Wirz Corporate could expand to Bern. "There's a lot going on in Bern in terms of communication, and we want to take advantage of that." Since January 20, 2005, the Wirz Corporate branch has been offering its expertise in the field of communication for politics, administration and companies from Bern and French-speaking Switzerland. The second key employee is Susanne Aebersold, former spokesperson and head of national referendum campaigns for the FDJP. "We want to offer less lobbying and public affairs in the traditional sense, but see our strengths in awareness-raising and referendum campaigns as well as advising politicians and the administration."
For the time being, the small branch office is mainly occupied during session times and is located on Hallerstrasse in a shared office with the AMG law practice of Ruth Metzler's husband Lukas. The lawyers enjoy reciprocal rights for their Zurich branch at Wirz on Üetlibergstrasse. Klaus, who is responsible for Wirz's Bern office, will also be offering his experience in crisis communication and crisis management at Wirz Corporate's headquarters.
In the area of crisis management, Klaus has developed an audit tool for Wirz that stands out because of its "somewhat cheeky nature. We don't talk down to our customers, but confront them with their problems and warn them where necessary." Especially in a crisis, such an "unvarnished second opinion" is sometimes needed.
Hans Klaus came into the consulting business via a winding path. He started out as a textile merchant. He was soon managing PR and advertising for a large fashion company. After professional detours to England and the USA, he switched completely to PR. In a small agency on Lake Zurich, the qualified PR consultant and marketing planner managed mandates for luxury goods and tourism. He later worked for the SIS financial group. Klaus soon became Head of Public Relations and worked for the clearing company for almost a year at SICOVAM on the Paris stock exchange. While working on registered shares, Klaus, who had since trained in the world of finance, met the CFO of Swissair.
His first job at the national airline in 1994 was in charge of PR for a spin-off of the IT subsidiary Swissair Information Systems and he later headed up communications for all Swissair Services operations such as ground services, technology, aircraft leasing and associated companies. This earned him a call to join Beatrice Tschanz's legendary press team.
When it happened with Halifax, there was not much discussion. The tasks were distributed at a hastily convened morning meeting and Klaus had to fly off to Canada just two hours later. There and in the USA, he was responsible for crisis communication at Swiss-
air for the whole of North America and occasionally accompanied relatives to the crash site. "That's when I got to know the American dimensions of PR. And all this 'on the job'," he recalls. Back in Zurich, Klaus was appointed media spokesman for Swissair Airline and looked after CEO Jeff Katz before applying for the position of press officer for Federal Councillor Ruth Metzler six months before the grounding.
He really enjoyed working in the team of the youngest female Federal Councillor. Klaus is convinced that Ruth Metzler's merits will also be better appreciated by her opponents in a few years' time. The political "big picture" would not have allowed an objective assessment of the Federal Councillor at the time. Klaus considers himself politically liberal. He wants to work as a PR consultant for various political colors and not actively participate in a party. However, he could well imagine taking up a political office one day.
The new member of the Wirz Corporate Executive Board lives with a consulting group manager from Wirz Advertising. Private life is much easier today than in the Swissair days, when traveling was the order of the day. But he still flies, now "hopefully more in gliders again", because Hans Klaus is also a passionate hobby pilot.
Feels challenged again at Wirz Corporate: Communications expert Hans Klaus.
Andreas Panzeri
