Launched in December 2004, the Vontobel Fund (CH) – Ethos Equities Swiss Mid & Small Cap invests in small and medium-sized Swiss companies that set high standards in the management of their environmental, social and governance issues. 15 years after its launch, the fund's total assets exceeded CHF 675 million at the end of November 2019.
Building on the success of its first index ESCGI, launched in January 2017, Ethos will be offering a new index allowing investors to favor companies that adhere to best practices in corporate governance and environmental responsibility. In collaboration with SIX, this new index focuses on the 20 largest companies listed on the Swiss stock market.
While the members of the Swiss lower house were approving the counter-proposal to the responsible business initiative, Ethos Foundation organised a conference and debate on Thursday 13th June 2019 in Bern on the topic of "multinational companies and respect for human rights: ethical, economic and political issues". Almost 120 people attended the event.
The general meetings of Ethos Foundation and Ethos Services which took place in Berne on 12 June 2015 elected Dominique Biedermann, Ethos' CEO up to then, to the chairmanship of Ethos Foundation and Ethos Services. At the same time, he will quit the management of Ethos in order to concentrate on his new tasks. He succeeds Kaspar Müller, founding member of Ethos in 1997 and chairman since 2007, who decided not to present himself for re-election.
On the occasion of the 2013 Dies Academicus, the University of Fribourg (Switzerland) has awarded the Doctor Honoris Causa degree to Dominique Biedermann, Ethos' CEO.
Kaspar Müller, chairman of Ethos Foundation and Ethos Services has announced that he will not stand for re-election at the 2015 annual general meeting. Kaspar Müller has been a member of Ethos Foundation's board since its inception in 1997 and its chairman since 2007. Kaspar Müller says “I am very pleased that the Foundation has reached a stage that allows the implementation of a long term succession plan of its board”.
For further information please refer to the German version of this news.