Hans Ulrich PESTALOZZI was born on 24th January 1941, in Berne, Switzerland. He is Swiss, a citizen of Zurich, and Brazilian.
Hans obtained a Doctorate of Law at the University of Zurich in 1971. This was preceded by study periods at the Sorbonne, Paris and the Universita` of Rome. In furtherance of his education, he became a Brazilian Patent Lawyer in 1986 as well as a Portuguese Patent Lawyer in 1990.
He undertook different courses on leadership with Professors of Harvard in the USA, INSEAD, France (one of the world’s leading and largest graduate business schools, which brings together people, cultures and ideas from around the world to develop leaders with a global outlook and strong entrepreneurial spirits), and the Senior Executive Programme at the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), in Switzerland.
Hans also served in the military as an Artillery Captain. He has a rich background of experiences, making him versatile and productive in many enterprises.
From 1972 to 1976, he worked as a Junior partner of the Law firm Lins, Tostes & Walter, in Rio de Janeiro. 1977 to 1990 saw him setting up his own law firm for International Business Law in Rio de Janeiro, with a branch office in Sao Paulo, Brazil. His work here included services in the field of commercial law, fiduciary management of foreign investors’ enterprises in the building-up stage, as well as co-operation in national and bilateral Boards.
Mr. Pestalozzi has assessed himself thus: “I consider myself as a generalist with specific knowledge in leadership, elaboration of structures, and implementation of duties in the field of international economic environments. I attach great importance to team-oriented management style. Analytical and creative skills are decisive for my entrepreneurial activities.” An apt description of the man dedicated to his duties and determined to see the achievement of his goals.
Hans has excelled in various capacities of service in not only Switzerland and Brazil, but in time also in France. In Switzerland since 1991, he has been with the Rotary Club (Montreux-Vevey), he has been a member of the Swiss Management Association, and also member of the Board of Ronda AG, Lausen and Baryon AG in Zurich.
In Brazil, he served as the President of the Swiss-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce for two periods, was a member of the Brazilian Committee at the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris, he has been on the Counsel of the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Rio de Janiero; as President of various Swiss Associations, as well as “SOS Kinderdorf” in Rio de Janiero, and the Rotary Club.
From 1995-2003 he served as the Deputy Board Director and President of Bayer International, SA.
Since January 2003, he has been President of the International Institute for Value-Based Enterprise (IVE), based in Fribourg, Switzerland, coaching future and prospective leaders.
Mr. Hans Pestalozzi is married to Maria Clotilde; they have a son Joao Marcos.