DUEBENDORF-ZURICH, Switzerland – 15 May 2009 – The Board of Directors of Myriad Group AG (formerly Esmertec AG) will propose two new independent Board Members for election by shareholders at its Annual General Meeting on May 19, 2009. Each would serve a one-year term.
The first is Rolf P. Jetzer, a senior partner in Zurich law firm Niederer Kraft & Frey AG, who also serves as the Chairman of Swiss International Air Lines as well as on the Board of Bank Julius Bär. If elected, he will become Chairman of Myriad Group AG.
The second is Michel Paulin, the former CEO of Neuf Cegetel, a French telecommunications network acquired by SFR last year in a transaction valuing the company at 7.7 billion euros
Rolf P. Jetzer: nominated for Chairman of the Board of Myriad Group AG
A Swiss citizen, Rolf Jetzer earned his doctorate in law at the University of Zurich. In 1982, he joined Niederer Kraft & Frey AG, one of Switzerland’s leading law firms, and has been a Partner in the firm since 1988.
Rolf Jetzer is known for his entrepreneurial and leadership qualities, and his strong motivational and unifying skills. Under his leadership as Chairman, Swiss International Air Lines executed a substantial turnaround, returned to profitability and merged with the Lufthansa Group.
From 1996 to 2002, he was a member of the steering committee, and legal advisor, to Swiss mobile network operator diAx (branded Sunrise) – beginning with the company founders in the early project phase, through commercialization and on to a successful trade sale of the business.
Rolf Jetzer is currently also a Board Member of Bank Julius Bär & Co. AG as well as Julius Bär Holding. He is involved in several other companies as Chairman or Director.
Michel Paulin: nominated for non-executive Director of Myriad Group AG
A French citizen, Michel Paulin has more than 20 years experience in the telecommunications industry. In 2000, he joined Neuf Cegetel, and was responsible for running various business units before being appointed Chief Operating Officer in 2004 and then Chief Executive Officer in 2005. Throughout this time, Neuf Cegetel was regarded as one of the most innovative and successful network operators in Europe, and ultimately became the second largest wireline network in France with revenue of 3.3 billion euros.
In 2006, Michel Paulin successfully introduced Neuf Cegetel on the Euronext French Market, after which the share price grew by more than 60% in 18 months and outpaced the French market. Then in 2008, he managed the sale of Neuf Cegetel to SFR in a transaction valuing the company at 7.7 billion euros, and led the successful integration of the two companies.
Earlier in his career, he headed business units at Group Bull and other companies, and was an engagement manager and consultant at McKinsey & Company. He holds degrees from French Ecole Polytechnique and Ecole Nationale Superieure des Telecommunications in Paris.
Since 2009, Michel Paulin is the Chief Operating Officer Integration of the Louis Dreyfus Commodities Group.