Roger Elsener becomes new SRF Director - SRG drives transformation forward

At its meeting on March 10, 2026, the SRG Board of Directors made three important personnel decisions: Roger Elsener was elected as the new Director of Swiss Radio and Television (SRF). The Board of Directors thus unanimously followed the proposal of the SRG German-speaking Switzerland Regional Executive Board. At the request of Director General Susanne Wille, Nicolas Pernet was also elected as Director of Supply and Moritz Stadler as Director of Operations. All three individuals will join the new SRG Executive Board.

Transformation into a digital media company

SRG is continuing its transformation and is resolutely driving change forward with the "Enavant SRG SSR" transformation project launched at the end of 2024. The goal: a more digital, leaner and more agile media company. In future, SRG will work more closely together across the regions, pool its strengths, exploit internal synergies and at the same time remain regionally anchored.

Following the election of Head of HR Severine Schori-Vogt and Stephanie Jutzi, Head of Communications and Public Affairs, the Executive Board is now being further developed with three additional, complementary profiles. The three leaders bring digital innovation, operational excellence and a keen understanding of the public service and the needs of the audience - skills that are central to the SRG of the future.

Roger Elsener: Media manager and digital expert

As the new Director of SRF, Roger Elsener will continue to develop the strong programme in terms of content and quality, drive forward digitalization in line with the audience's changing usage habits and also focus on the young audience. He succeeds Nathalie Wappler, who announced her resignation in September 2025.

The 47-year-old from central Switzerland is currently CEO of Zattoo, the leading Swiss internet TV streaming provider. He convinced the members of the nomination committee headed by Lukas Bruhin, President of SRG Deutschschweiz. Roger Elsener has many years of experience in the radio, TV and streaming business and has a profound understanding of the Swiss media market. Elsener was previously Managing Director of Ch Media Entertainment and has been a member of the Executive Board of the Ch Media radio and TV group since 2018. Elsener was also CEO of Ch Media TV, the joint venture between Ch Media and Sunrise for their TV group and the streaming service oneplus.

Before joining Ch Media, Roger Elsener held management positions at various media companies, including AZ Medien, the 3+ Group and Viacom International Media Networks (MTV, Viva, Nickelodeon). Roger Elsener graduated from the University of Zurich in 2003 with a Master's degree in journalism. He is married, has a family and now lives in Menzingen ZG, where he was born.

Lukas Bruhin, President of SRG Deutschschweiz: "The Regional Board of SRG Deutschschweiz is delighted that Roger Elsener has been elected by the SRG Board of Directors. Roger Elsener has everything it takes to further develop SRF in a challenging phase in the service of the public service in German-speaking Switzerland. He also impresses us on a personal level with his down-to-earth attitude, clarity and openness."

Susanne Wille, Director General of SRG: "Roger Elsener is an experienced media manager and digital expert who will consistently continue SRF's digital transformation. He combines strategic media expertise, innovative strength and a deep understanding of the Swiss and international journalism and media market. He is therefore ideally suited to take SRF forward as a leading medium in a rapidly changing environment and develop it into a modern, digital medium with relevant programming in German-speaking Switzerland."

SRF Director Nathalie Wappler is leaving SRF at the end of April. Roger Elsener will take up his new role seamlessly on May 1, 2026.

Nicolas Pernet takes over management Offer

Nicolas Pernet has headed Radiotelevisiun Svizra Rumantscha (RTR) since 2021 and has been Deputy Director General of SRG since 2025. He is also co-head of the "Enavant" transformation project. Born in the Lower Engadine, the 46-year-old media manager studied business administration at the University of St. Gallen and received his doctorate in 2010 after study visits to the University of Michigan and HEC Paris.

Before joining SRG, he spent around ten years at the media company Ringier, where he worked for the former Blick Group as Head of Marketing and Head of Publishing & News Business. Most recently, as Head of Commercial Management, he was responsible for commercial revenues. Nicolas Pernet is married, has a family and lives in Egg near Zurich and Chur.

Among other things, the new Offering division will manage the live and streaming platform Play+ as well as the future SRG-wide offering units Fiction and Sport. This will ensure that SRG's offering meets the needs of the audience even better in future and is at the cutting edge of technology. Thanks to regionally organized teams, proximity to viewers is guaranteed.

Susanne Wille: "Nicolas Pernet has many years of experience at the interface between media content and distribution. He is ideally qualified to further develop SRG's offering strategy in a targeted manner. The focus here is on the expectations and needs of the audience, the media market and its future developments and which technologies are driving it."

Nicolas Pernet will take up his new position on April 1, 2026. The position of Director of RTR will be advertised externally. In the meantime, a transition team will take over the management of RTR on an interim basis.

Moritz Stadler is responsible for operations

The new Operations division combines production and technology and, among other things, sets uniform framework conditions for all production and technological activities. The future integrated infrastructure for all language regions and intensified collaboration across Switzerland is an important lever of the "Enavant" transformation project.

Moritz Stadler has been in charge of stream operations at "Enavant" since mid-2025. In 2024, he was elected Co-Executive Producer of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel. Until mid-2025, he was a member of the RTS Executive Board as Head of Operations, where he further developed technology and production and consistently aligned them with the organization's strategic goals.

Previously, he was Head of Project Management Office at Eurovision Services, a subsidiary of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) in Geneva, where his responsibilities included the operational implementation of major international projects. Before joining SRG and the EBU, Moritz Stadler worked in various positions in the media and event industry, including as Deputy Production Manager at Europe 1 in Paris and on assignments for UEFA and FIFA in various regions of the world. He trained as a radio technician and also holds a degree in management from the University of Caen. Moritz Stadler (40) is married, has a family and lives in Neuchâtel.

Susanne Wille: "In Moritz Stadler, we have gained a leader who will drive SRG and the public service forward in the areas of production and technology with all his might. He brings with him international implementation experience and a high level of operational excellence - crucial for the efficiency, quality and security of our structures and processes."

Moritz Stadler will assume his new role on April 1, 2026.