The Out of Home Awards are kicking off their next round with some new additions to the team. On March 4, 2027, the Swiss communications industry will gather at KINOKONI in Zurich to honor the country’s most outstanding posters and commercials, according to Aussenwerbung Schweiz (AWS). Two new members, Oliver Schönfeld and Arjun Gilgen, are joining the 14-member expert jury. Journalist Jennifer Bosshard will host the industry event WOOHW!.

Out of Home Awards: Creative Achievements in the Spotlight

According to the association, the competition is considered Switzerland’s largest creative competition for analog and digital outdoor advertising. Those who submit a campaign enhance the reputation of their own creation and subject it to the judgment of a high-caliber jury of experts. Jury Chair Christian Brändle, Director of the Museum für Gestaltung Zürich, explains: «Excellent outdoor advertising requires more than just visibility: it needs an idea that surprises, is visually compelling, and establishes its own distinct presence. The competition highlights just how diverse and relevant themes in public spaces can be today.»

Expert Jury: Who's Coming, Who's Going

The expert jury, whose composition varies, consists of 14 representatives from the fields of culture, media planning, the client side of the industry, agencies, and the creative sector. Stefan Hürlemann of Skala Design and Elise Gaud de Buck of Plates-Bandes will step down from the panel in 2026. Their seats will be taken by Oliver Schönfeld, Managing Director of TWmedia The Whole Media, and Arjun Gilgen, co-founder and Creative Director at Skala Design.

The other members are Nathalie Diethelm (CEO of House of Communication), Lukas M. Dittmer (Integrated Media Manager at IKEA), Jonas Eliassen (CEO of Havas), Michael Kamm (Founder of Kamm Unik), Heike Kammerer-Vercelli (Head of Marketing & Consumer Communication at Nestlé Suisse), Antonia Lepore (CMO / Head of Marketing Communication at Axa Switzerland), and Marco Rose (Co-Owner & Head of Strategy at Mediatonic). Also on the jury are Julian Stauffer (Creative Director at Mona and Mateo), Jonas Voegeli (Head of the Bachelor’s Program in Visual Communication at Zurich University of the Arts), Manuel Wenzel (Chief Creative Officer at TBWA Switzerland), and Thomas Wildberger (Founder, Owner, and President of ADC Switzerland). Brändle chairs the jury.

According to the press release, this panel brings together a variety of perspectives. It is intended to lay the groundwork for an independent and well-informed evaluation of the year’s best outdoor advertising campaigns in Switzerland.

WOOHW! Combines a Conference and an Awards Night

The event, organized by the Outdoor Advertising Association, combines a professional conference with an awards night. The focus is on the Swiss Out of Home Awards, which recognize outstanding work in five categories. Presenter and journalist Jennifer Bosshard will host the evening. Afterward, the festivities continue with dinner, drinks, music, and networking.

WOOHW! is supported by AWS members APG|SGA and Goldbach Neo. Setaprint, Richnerstutz, and Media Focus are serving as sponsors. The media partner is «m&k.» The names of the jury members can be found at www.woohw.ch/sooha-jury viewable.

More information: www.woohw.ch

Bank Cler Zak Aims to Create a Movie Theater Atmosphere

With Zak, Bank Cler’s neobanking app, anyone can become an investor. With «Zak Invest,» launching in early 2026, users will be able to trade more than 12,000 stocks, ETFs, and other funds on the world’s major stock exchanges directly from the app. To promote the offering, Bank Cler, in collaboration with Neu Creative Agency, has developed a special campaign centered around the Zurich Film Festival.

In addition to the main campaign launched earlier this year, Bank Cler is focusing on targeted activations to embed Zak Invest in the target audience’s daily lives. The current campaign uses the Zurich Film Festival and the cinematic atmosphere enjoyed by movie fans as its context.

A Humorous Tribute to a Classic Film

The campaign playfully draws on a thematically relevant film genre and applies its visual language to the topic of investing. The out-of-home campaign can currently be seen around Zurich’s Bellevue and plays on the expectations of moviegoers during the festival.

This initiative demonstrates how Bank Cler is using situational storytelling to attract new target audiences for its investment product. By linking the campaign to a locally rooted cultural event such as the Zurich Film Festival, the bank aims to increase the campaign’s visibility in urban areas.

Gregor Eicher and Debora Gassmann from Bank Cler were involved in the project. At Neu Creative Agency, Simon Rehsche, Sandy Pfuhl, Nico Ammann, and Fabienne Schoberth were responsible for the project. The photography was by Lukas Maeder, and phd handled the media planning.

Responsible at Bank Cler: Gregor Eicher, Debora Gassmann. Responsible at Neu Creative Agency: Simon Rehsche, Sandy Pfuhl, Nico Ammann, Fabienne Schoberth. Photographer: Lukas Maeder. Media: phd.

Ford's OOH Campaign Turns Vandalism into Advertising Space

In Zurich’s industrial district, posters have been vandalized for some time now. Unknown individuals are tearing off parts of the images, so that on posters for car manufacturers, the vehicles depicted are missing important parts or appear damaged—a crack in the hood, a scratch on the fender, a missing taillight, or even a damaged rear end. Ogilvy used precisely this observation as the starting point for the Ford OOH campaign.

Repairs Using Genuine Replacement Parts

Ogilvy used the damage to highlight Ford’s fast and professional repair service, which uses genuine replacement parts. Over the summer, the agency, together with APG and Ford, professionally repaired any damage to Ford posters in a very short time—using original replacement parts from original Ford poster designs.

Observing Everyday Life as a Creative Approach

The idea for the campaign arose from an everyday observation in public spaces. Instead of simply replacing the damaged posters, Ogilvy turned the damage itself into a communication tool, thereby linking the real-life situation in the cityscape with the brand’s message.

Responsible at Ford: Julie Garnero (Head of Marketing), Dominic Rossier (Communications & Public Affairs Manager), and Dario Ranalli (Marketing & Communications) Responsible at Ogilvy: Marika Magnusewska, Samuel Wicki, Bruce Roberts (Creative), Stephan Lanz (Consulting), Swen Morath (CCO) Responsible at APG|SGA: Peer Kleinfeldt (Head of KAM Agencies) and Urs Ramsauer (Head of KAM Direct Clients)

APG|SGA Wins transN Bid

APG|SGA transN – this partnership will shape outdoor advertising in the Canton of Neuchâtel starting in 2027: APG|SGA, Switzerland’s leading outdoor advertising company, has won the public bidding process for the marketing of the analog outdoor and indoor advertising spaces of the transit company transN. The contract begins on January 1, 2027. According to the press release, APG|SGA is said to have received the highest rating in all three award criteria—the commercial proposal, the quality of services, and the bidder’s suitability.

The request for proposals, published on April 22, 2026, covered all analog advertising spaces on the vehicle fleet as well as seven F12 spaces and four F4 spaces.

transN: Reaches 28.5 million passengers per year

TransN is the largest transportation company in the canton of Neuchâtel. With a 293-kilometer route network and a fleet of 172 vehicles—including 108 buses, 42 trolleybuses, 17 trains, and five funiculars—and serving approximately 28.5 million passengers annually, the company offers advertisers broad reach and a strong presence in public spaces.

Olivier Chabanel, Head of Partner Market Romandie at APG|SGA, commented on the decision: «Being awarded the contract confirms APG|SGA’s competitiveness and the trust placed in its many years of experience, high-quality service, and proven marketing expertise. At the same time, the partnership with transN strengthens APG|SGA’s portfolio in French-speaking Switzerland and expands the attractive range of advertising opportunities on public transportation.»

APG|SGA transN Expands Its Offerings in French-Speaking Switzerland

With the acquisition of transN, APG|SGA will further expand its portfolio of public transportation advertising services in French-speaking Switzerland starting in early 2027. According to the press release, this is intended to offer advertisers high visibility and an effective presence in the Neuchâtel region and the Jura Arc, as well as throughout French-speaking Switzerland.

According to its own statements, APG|SGA is Switzerland’s leading outdoor advertising company. Specializing in digital and analog advertising solutions as well as special advertising formats, the company covers all areas of outdoor advertising—from high-traffic street locations to train stations, points of sale, and points of interest, as well as public transportation and airports. More than 500 employees across Switzerland are responsible for operating the digital screens and billboard spaces.

For more information on APG|SGA's advertising opportunities on public transportation, visit: https://www.apgsga.ch/media

SPR+, the independent research institute for Swiss out-of-home media, has decided to collaborate with Format12 and Screen7. Starting June 22, 2026, their outdoor advertising spaces will be integrated into the SPR+ Expert planning tool, making them transparent and easy to report on and plan for advertisers and agencies.

Six outdoor advertising companies in the SPR+ Out of Home Planning Tool

In addition to the providers already included—APG|SGA, Goldbach Neo OOH, Swissplakat, and horizon!—Format12’s traditional OOH spaces and Screen7’s digital DOOH spaces are now also available in SPR+ Expert. This allows campaigns from a total of six outdoor advertising companies to be evaluated and planned across different providers and technologies.

SPR+ provides OOH and DOOH media services throughout Switzerland. Geographically and temporally targeted campaigns can be mapped and evaluated using performance metrics weighted by visibility. Individual ad spaces and campaigns can be evaluated for any geographic area—from a single municipality to the national level—and planned to precisely meet customer needs.

Precise Target Audience Targeting with SPR+ Expert

The tool enables the precise, small-scale, and time-differentiated management of client-specific store areas, including the documentation of costs and performance. The goal is to reach the targeted audiences with pinpoint accuracy and in the right dosage. Ad schedules with overviews of costs, performance, and ad space can be generated at the click of a button. The system provides visibility-weighted contacts per advertising space, as well as reach, OTS, GRP, CPM, CPP, and affinity metrics for cross-provider poster campaigns.

According to the company, the research model complies with the global guidelines for out-of-home advertising research established by ESOMAR and the World Out of Home Organization. In addition, SPR+ has a national mobility model that includes pedestrian traffic counts for every road segment in Switzerland.

Despite the expansion to approximately 60,000 registered OOH and DOOH advertising spaces, license fees for advertisers and agencies will remain unchanged for the time being.

More information about the planning tool: https://www.spr-plus.ch

ADC Switzerland is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. A three-day birthday celebration in January at the world’s only Kronenhalle pop-up restaurant was followed by an entire week of festivities: From June 8 to 13, everything at the Kraftwerk in Zurich revolved around cubes, advertising, and the industry’s future development. Now, an ADC anniversary campaign rounds out the anniversary program—featuring a movie theater ad and an extensive series of posters.

Good ideas stand the test of time

The campaign is based on the idea: «What would advertising be without those who have been showing us how it’s done for 50 years?» Many Swiss brands have become popular—or even iconic—because of their advertising. The campaign aims to highlight and celebrate the creative work and the minds behind these ideas. The ADC is deliberately positioning itself as the driving force behind this: the creators of these iconic works are all united by their exclusive membership in the club—which the ADC aims to strengthen through various anniversary initiatives.

Both the movie theater spot and the posters draw on popular creative advertisements from throughout the history of ADC Switzerland. The aim is to once again demonstrate to the Swiss public and businesses what creativity can achieve. The film was produced in collaboration with the production company Shining and features numerous clips from well-known and beloved commercials, making it both an entertaining and excellent testament to Swiss advertising history. It has a modular structure and can be broadcast and adapted in various versions of different lengths.

About 30 works spanning five decades

The ADC anniversary campaign also brings together exemplary designs—which have been recognized by the ADC—in its poster series. There are around 30 pieces of work that have left their mark on their respective eras. Alongside the first wave of the DOOH campaign, the designs are being featured on social media. New works are being added on an ongoing basis, creating a growing archive of outstanding creativity spanning five decades throughout the anniversary year.

The movie trailer is running in numerous theaters nationwide—made possible by the support of Weischer.Cinema Switzerland. The posters were created with the help of Prodigious and can be seen at numerous locations throughout the Zurich area; APG|SGA made this campaign possible. In addition, Admeira and the Museum für Gestaltung helped procure the materials.

ADC Contact: David Lübke, Ennio Cadau, Marko Strihic, Stefanie Huber, Andy Lusti, Manuel Wenzel, Hanna Jackl, Dragana Knezevic. Person in charge at Weischer.Cinema Switzerland: Christof Kaufmann, Florian Eberle. Responsible at APG|SGA: Markus Ehrle, Peer Kleinfeldt, Nadja Mühlemann. Responsible at Shining: Stefan Bircher, Leonardo Sanfilippo, Gina Roder. Responsible at Our Colors: Jürgen Kupka. Responsible at Prodigious: Adrian Häni, Philipp Zubler, Claudia Novelli, Susan Baumgartner. Person in charge at DubDub: Gregor Rosenberger. Contact at Admeira: Michaela Bhasin, Matthias Fehr. Contact at the Museum für Gestaltung: Christian Brändle.

APG|SGA: Xavier Gostely Takes Over Sales Responsibilities in Western Switzerland

Effective July 1, 2026, Xavier Gostely will assume overall responsibility for the Romandie sales region at APG|SGA. He will succeed Daniel Meister, who is leaving the company at his own request after six years.

Xavier Gostely brings many years of experience in the sales of B2B solutions and in leading sales teams. Most recently, he served as sales manager at Magenta Eko / GTS Solar. Prior to that, he held various key account and management positions at companies including Romande Energie, Swisscom Broadcast, and Philip Morris.

Reporting Line for Michael Sutter

In his new role, Xavier Gostely will report to Michael Sutter, Head of Sales Regions and Transport Advertising at APG|SGA. Michael Sutter commented on the appointment as follows: «With Xavier Gostely, we are gaining a distinguished leader for French-speaking Switzerland. His proven sales expertise and his experience in developing markets and customer relationships will further strengthen our position in French-speaking Switzerland. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Daniel Meister for his great dedication and his important contribution to the successful development of our activities in French-speaking Switzerland.»

APG|SGA is Switzerland’s leading outdoor advertising company and, according to its own statements, specializes in digital and analog advertising solutions as well as special advertising formats at high-traffic locations—on the street, in train stations, at the point of sale, at points of interest, in the mountains, and in and around public transportation and airports. More than 500 employees across Switzerland ensure successful advertising campaigns and displays.

More information: https://www.apgsga.ch/media

Valais Campaign Focuses on Escaping the Daily Grind

Appointments, traffic jams, the next task on the to-do list: Everyday life often sets the pace. This is exactly where the new Valaisanne campaign comes in. With the slogan «Just take a break,» the Valais beer brand highlights the desire for small breaks from the daily routine—and positions itself as a beer for moments of enjoyment away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

The campaign was conceived and implemented by the agency brinkertlück Switzerland in collaboration with the Valais-based agency Schnyder Werbung. The Valais, as the brand’s place of origin, and the distinctive Blacknose sheep serve as brand ambassadors—a choice rich in symbolism.

A sheep with a mind of its own

The Blacknose sheep once again features as a defining element in the campaign. Carole Helfenstein, Brand Director at Valaisanne, explains the decision as follows: «The Blacknose sheep represents values such as a love of freedom, independence, and originality. Black-nosed sheep are known for having a mind of their own. They stubbornly go their own way and, every now and then, like to break away from the herd. And the same goes for Valaisanne connoisseurs.»

The goal of the campaign is to further establish Valaisanne, particularly in German-speaking Switzerland.

The commercial hints rather than shows

At the heart of the Valaisanne campaign is a TV commercial in which the Black-Nosed Sheep takes center stage. The actual moment of enjoyment is deliberately not shown directly, but merely hinted at—through the varied ways a Valaisanne bottle is opened in different situations. The campaign relies on suggestion and invites viewers to imagine the rest of the story for themselves.

Out-of-Home, Social Media, and Playful Media Use

The campaign is complemented by initiatives on social media, online, and through out-of-home channels. Here, too, the campaign deliberately plays with the medium: on double OOH billboards, the sheep symbolically breaks out of the frame—a visual break that brings the campaign concept to life.

For more information about Valaisanne, visit https://www.valaisanne.ch available.

Contact at Brauerei Valaisanne: Carole Helfenstein, Brand Director. Contact person at brinkertlück Switzerland: Campaign Implementation. Other participating companies: Schnyder Advertising (concept and execution), iProspect.

APG|SGA Zurich Airport: Exclusive Partnership Continues

As part of a public tender, Flughafen Zürich AG has once again awarded the marketing of all advertising spaces to APG|SGA. The new contract is effective from January 1, 2027, through at least the end of 2033. This continues the partnership that began in 2020—at one of Switzerland’s most important hubs for mobility and social interaction.

The contract covers all analog and digital advertising spaces at Zurich Airport, both airside and landside. This includes all branding zones and special formats, as well as the mega-posters at the parking garages.

A compelling overall concept as the basis for the award of the contract

According to a press release, APG|SGA, Switzerland’s leading provider of outdoor advertising, won the contract with a compelling overall concept that impressed Flughafen Zürich AG both in terms of quality and quantity. Key factors in the award of the contract included, among others, the company’s extensive national and international marketing expertise, innovative and sustainable solutions, efficiency in implementation, and many years of experience in the premium environment of Zurich Airport.

By continuing their partnership, Flughafen Zürich AG and APG|SGA intend to continue relying on high-quality, eye-catching communication solutions in the future. APG|SGA covers all areas of outdoor advertising at high-traffic locations—on the street, in train stations, at points of sale and points of interest, in the mountains, and in and around public transportation and airports. The offering is complemented by mobile advertising and interactive features. More than 500 employees ensure successful advertising campaigns and displays throughout Switzerland.

For more information about APG|SGA and its advertising spaces at Zurich Airport, visit https://www.apgsga.ch/media.

APG|SGA is reorganizing the leadership of its «APG|SGA Transport Advertising» unit. Effective June 1, 2026, Markus Fischer will rejoin the company and take over as head of the division. Most recently, he served as Head of Sales Regional Publishing at CH Media. He is familiar with the Transport Advertising division from personal experience: He previously worked for this unit from 2011 to 2023 and, by his own account, is thoroughly familiar with both the needs of advertising clients and the key concerns of the contracting partners—the public transit agencies.

As Switzerland’s leading provider of outdoor advertising, APG|SGA markets more than 100,000 analog outdoorand interior advertising spaces, as well as more than 1,900 TrafficMediaScreens in over 6,000 vehicles. Through its specialized Transport Advertising unit, APG|SGA offers its advertising clients a comprehensive, customizable portfolio that, according to the press release, is designed to create countless advertising opportunities throughout Switzerland.

Reporting Structure and Management Assessment

Markus Fischer will report to Michael Sutter, Head of Sales Regions and Transport Advertising. Sutter is pleased with this addition: «With Markus Fischer, we are gaining a leader who knows both the outdoor advertising business and our organization inside and out and who, together with the entire team, will ensure the success of our partners in the advertising and partner market.»

Andreas Steltzlen will remain as Key Account Manager

As part of this succession plan, which was arranged well in advance, the current unit head, Andreas Steltzlen, will assume the role of Key Account Manager and Project Manager for Transport Advertising until his retirement. Michael Sutter commented: «We are very pleased that Andreas Steltzlen will remain with the company in this new role. With his extensive knowledge of the transportation business, his long-standing relationships with partners and clients, and his wealth of experience, he will continue to make an important contribution to the unit’s success.»

With these changes, APG|SGA says it is restructuring the management and organization of transport advertising in a forward-looking manner to ensure it remains consistently focused on the needs and success of its advertising clients and contractual partners.

APG|SGA's 2025 Sustainability Report Shows Significant Progress

APG|SGA has published its 2025 annual sustainability report—once again underscoring the central importance of transparency and measurable progress as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy. In the year marking its 125th anniversary, the leading Swiss out-of-home media company has achieved significant milestones in the area of sustainability.

The Group’s total greenhouse gas emissions were reduced by 46 percent compared to the previous year. According to the press release, the switch to renewable electricity at the Group company Alma Quattro d.o.o. in Serbia was a major factor in this reduction. As a result, the share of renewable electricity across the Group rose from 70 percent to 100 percent. APG|SGA was thus able to stay on track with its emission reduction targets and achieve the interim goal of 100 percent renewable electricity, which had been set for 2025.

The electricity purchased in Switzerland for illuminated signage, digital advertising, all commercial properties, and electric vehicles has been sourced entirely from hydropower since 2014 and bears the «naturemade star» seal of approval—the highest quality rating for green electricity.

New fleet strategy aims to reduce CO₂ emissions by an additional 700 metric tons

In addition to the greenhouse gas reductions achieved through the switch to renewable electricity, a new fleet strategy was rolled out in 2025. This strategy calls for the gradual electrification of the vehicle fleet and is expected to reduce annual emissions by approximately 700 metric tons of CO₂ equivalents in the future, the statement continues.

APG|SGA’s efforts have been recognized externally: As part of the recertification audit for the EcoEntreprise label, the company achieved the highest level, «EcoEntreprise Excellence.» In addition, the company once again received the top grade of «A» in the Climate category of the international CDP rating, placing it among the world’s leading companies in terms of transparency and quality in climate reporting. Its recertification as a “Great Place to Work” reaffirms its commitment to social responsibility and a culture of mutual respect.

Biodiversity as Part of the CSR Strategy

The cover photo of the APG|SGA Sustainability Report shows the restored floodplain area at Reussegger Schachen in Sins (AG). Along new side channels of the Reuss River, steep and flat banks, sandbars, and pools have been created—serving as habitats for numerous animal and plant species, many of which are threatened with extinction. The «naturemade star» fund from ewz covered about one-fifth of the project costs. By purchasing «naturemade star» electricity, APG|SGA helps finance such biodiversity projects.

With its 23rd Sustainability Report, APG|SGA reaffirms its commitment to making corporate social responsibility an integral part of its business operations. Systematic reporting and consistent greenhouse gas accounting remain key tools for measuring progress and actively driving the company’s sustainable transformation.

The full 2025 Sustainability Report is available at: https://www.apgsga.ch/de/ueber-uns/verantwortung-nachhaltigkeit

NZZ, JCDecaux SE and Pargesa Asset Management S.A. have informed the company that they completed the acquisition of blocks of shares by NZZ from JCDecaux SE and Pargesa Asset Management S.A. on April 30, 2026. The corresponding purchase agreements were concluded on December 11, 2025 and publicly announced on December 12, 2025. As a result, NZZ now currently holds 45 percent of the company's share capital. It is exempt from the obligation to submit a purchase offer to all shareholders in accordance with the new provision in the Articles of Association adopted at the Extraordinary General Meeting on January 23, 2026 regarding a so-called selective opting-up, as long as it does not exceed the threshold of 49% of the voting rights. NZZ acquired a total of 20 % shares in two transactions from the sellers JCDecaux SE and Pargesa Asset Management S.A. For more information on the transactions and the selective opting-up, please refer to the company's media releases dated December 12, 2025 and January 23, 2026.