Annual Report 2005/06 THE WORLD OF SOUND - Sonova

Dr. Valentin Chapero Rueda (born in 1956) joined the PhonakGroup as CEO in October 2002.Before joining Phonak, Valentin Chapero Rueda was CEO of theMobile Networks Division of Siemens. Prior to this, between mid-1996and the end of 1999, he was CEO of the Siemens Audiology Group, theworld’s largest hearing instrument manufacturer. He took the companyinto the digital era, tripling sales and significantly improving profitability.Valentin Chapero Rueda began his career within the R&D departmentof Nixdorf Computer.Valentin Chapero Rueda, whose parents are Spanish, grew up andcompleted his education in Germany. He graduated in Physics at theUniversity of Heidelberg, Germany, and was awarded his doctorate witha thesis in the medicine/physics field.Dr. Herbert Bächler (born in 1950) has been a key member ofPhonak’s management team since 1981. In June 2002, he was appointedto the position of Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and became a memberof the Management Board.Herbert Bächler is responsible, on a groupwide basis, for directingthe various research projects. His duties include the pursuit of new technologiesand their application to hearing instruments and related businessopportunities.Herbert Bächler received his diploma in Electronic Engineering in1973 and his doctorate in 1978 from the Swiss Federal Institute ofTechnology Zurich, Switzerland.Toni Schrofner (born in 1963) joined the Phonak Group asExecutive Vice President Operations & Supply Chain and became amember of the Management Board in December 2003.Before joining Phonak, Toni Schrofner was acting as President ofTecan Instruments and member of Tecan Group’s Executive ManagementTeam. The position included the function of General Manager TecanSchweiz AG. Prior to the appointment at Tecan headquarters, he wasManaging Director of Tecan Austria GmbH between 1996 and 2001.Toni Schrofner earned a diploma in mechanical engineering (focuson mechanical engineering and operation technology) at the HTL inSalzburg, Austria, and completed his MCI Studies of Economics/InternationalManagement at the University of Innsbruck, Austria.Oliver Walker (born in 1969) was appointed CFO of the PhonakGroup in October 2004.Before joining Phonak, he held the position of CFO of StratecMedical Group Oberdorf, Switzerland, since 2000. Stratec is a leadinginternational medical devices company, specializing in the development,manufacture, and marketing of instruments and implants for the surgicaltreatment of bones. Prior to Stratec, Oliver Walker worked for sevenyears with the Von Roll Group, a diversified industrial company. His mostrecent position there was as Head of Finance and Controlling for thedivision Von Roll Infratec.Oliver Walker studied Economics at the University of Berne,Switzerland; he holds a Masters Degree in Business Economics.Paul Thompson (born in 1967) was appointed to the position ofExecutive Vice President Corporate Development in October 2004. In thisposition, he is responsible for the development of the Group Strategyand the implementation of various business development activities.Prior to this appointment, he was CFO of the Phonak Group sincethe beginning of 2002. Between 1998 and 2001, Paul Thompson actedas CFO and later also as COO of the Unitron Hearing Group. Beforejoining Unitron Hearing, between 1987 and 1998, he worked for Ernst &Young in Canada, first in the auditing division and then in the managementconsulting division.Paul Thompson studied Finance and Economics at the University ofWaterloo, Canada. In 1992, Paul Thompson was granted his CharteredAccountant designation and in 1998, he achieved the designation ofCertified Management Consultant.Corporate Governance27