Dr. Simon Wey Appointed New Managing Director of VAP in Switzerland

The VAP Association of the Freight Industry in Switzerland announced a change in its operational leadership during its General Assembly on August 27, 2024: Dr. Simon Wey will be the new Managing Director of VAP. He takes over the position from Dr. Frank Furrer, who led the association for 32 years and was elected to the executive committee by the General Assembly.

(Uitikon) The professional career of Simon Wey from Lucerne began with an apprenticeship as a metal construction locksmith, which he supplemented with a technical vocational maturity. He then completed his studies in technical computer science at the current University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland as a computer science engineer. He continued his education at the University of Zurich and began his professional career as a research assistant at the Competition Commission WEKO after obtaining a Master’s degree in Economics. In addition, he wrote a dissertation on the topic “A Business Perspective on Public Regulation” at the University of Zurich and with a scholarship in the USA.

After a two-year stint as a Business Analyst at Swisscom, he moved to the Swiss Employers’ Association and was promoted to Chief Economist in 2019. Josef Dittli, President of VAP, expressed his delight at the new addition: “We are fortunate to have Simon Wey on board. With his extensive experience as a competent and widely respected economist and his empathetic, inclusive, down-to-earth nature, he will credibly and successfully represent the interests of VAP.”

32 Years of Setting the Course

Frank Furrer has served as Secretary General for VAP since 1992. He is stepping down from his position due to age but will continue to be available to VAP. The 2024 General Assembly elected him to the executive committee as the highest governing body. Here, Frank Furrer will take on coaching and act as deputy to his successor, while also continuing to advise VAP members through the newly established VAP subsidiary “Cargo Rail Consulting AG.”

Josef Dittli commented on the handover as follows: “When we started planning for Frank’s succession three years ago, we would have preferred to clone him; younger, of course. We are happy that the ‘old’ Frank remains with us in the executive committee – and thus retains his enormous knowledge in rail freight transport, his political negotiation experience, and of course his sharp-witted, humorous eloquence.”

Responsible for Multimodal Logistics

Dr. Simon Wey will take over the operational leadership and responsibility for the association’s affairs on January 1, 2025. He will lead the largest association in Switzerland for private sector interests related to rail freight transport. VAP is committed to liberal core values and represents around 300 companies from the freight industry and logistics in Switzerland and neighboring countries.

With an active transport policy, Dr. Simon Wey is committed to optimizing the economic policy framework, rail and road infrastructure, and logistics locations to ensure that multimodal logistics chains across all transport modes guarantee a viable rail freight transport. When asked about his long-term goal at the helm of VAP, the 48-year-old replied: “I am extremely pleased to contribute my knowledge and experiences in politics, business, and administration, together with VAP members, to improve the economic policy framework in the modernization and digitalization of rail freight transport and to further develop the positioning of VAP both internally and externally.”

Photo: © VAP