

We ARE The experts for your financial processes
As the largest independent partnership-based consulting boutique for manufacturing companies headquartered in Switzerland, we have specialized in readying our clients’ financial processes for current challenges and future success, both here and in their global subsidiaries, since 2009.
FS partners in figures
350+
Over 350 successful mandates
250
250 satisfied clients
20
20 partners in the core team
50
50 additional experts that are quickly available
INTERNATIONAL
SWITZERLAND & THE WORLD

No matter if you are a Swiss company already represented internationally with production facilities and sales offices or if you are planning to go that route, we will accompany you with the usual FS Partners competencies from here or on site with our partner companies.
Our services:
- Evaluation of the setup of international business activities based on business plan, location analysis, assessment of as well as consultation for investment options and establishment of local business structures
- Analysis, strategy adjustment, catalogue of measures and their implementation if local business goals are not achieved
- Financial services such as transfer pricing, credit limit negotiations, setting up bank draft management, tax consulting and setting up legal structures
- Interim management in case of bottlenecks and absences
Our international network:




MEET THE TEAM
- All
- Managing Partners
- Senior Partners
- Partners
- Associate Partners
- Scaleup Desk
- International
- Services

SIMON FREI
SIMON FREI
Managing Partner
CEO

WERNER SCHIESSER
WERNER SCHIESSER
Managing Partner

MARKUS ZIEGLER
MARKUS ZIEGLER
Managing Partner

ROLAND KLEEB
ROLAND KLEEB
Managing Partner

REBECCA GLODEN
REBECCA GLODEN
Contract Management

PATRICK COMBOEUF
PATRICK COMBOEUF
Member of the Board & Senior Partner

VOLKER NOTHACKER
VOLKER NOTHACKER
Pool of Experts / Business Development

STEPHAN RUSCH
STEPHAN RUSCH
Senior Partner

CHRISTIAN HOLDEREGGER
CHRISTIAN HOLDEREGGER
Senior Partner

Christian Nauer
CHRISTIAN NAUER
Senior Partner

Tom Schlup
Tom Schlup
Partner

Isabelle Weber
Isabelle Weber
Associate Partner
Scaleup Desk

CHRISTIAN EGNER
CHRISTIAN EGNER
Partner

DANIEL BULGHERONI
DANIEL BULGHERONI
Partner

MARKUS STAUB
MARKUS STAUB
Partner

René Lirgg
René Lirgg
Partner

ERICH PETER
ERICH PETER
Partner

Dennis Ziegenhagen
DENNIS ZIEGENHAGEN
Partner

Ingo Schmuckli
INGO SCHMUCKLI
Senior Consultant

Frank Stotzem
Frank Stotzem
Associate Partner
International

NUO HASENFRATZ
NUO HASENFRATZ
Associate Partner
International

Leandro Aeschlimann
Leandro Aeschlimann
Associate Partner
Scaleup Desk

Lukas Gysin
Lukas Gysin
Associate Partner
Scaleup Desk

Roland Bendel
Roland Bendel
Associate Partner
International


Simon Frei
Managing Partner
THE DRIVER
- Executive MBA Rochester-Bern
- Bachelor in Business Administration
- CAS Blockchain Economy HWZ
- Digital CFO IFZ
- Board Academy ZHAW
- Controller Akademie Deyhle
- Several Controlling and CFO positions in international Swiss companies
- 5 years operational activity in China



Werner Schiesser
Managing Partner
THE ANCHOR
- lic.iur. HSG
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
- Certified Fraud Examiner
- 30 years of experience as a CPA and fraud examiner, 10 years of experience as a CEO in the service and consulting industry
- Various board mandates



Markus Ziegler
Managing Partner
THE RESTING POOL
- Bachelor degree in Economics
- CAS in KMU Management
- CAS Blockchain Economy HWZ
- Several Audit, Controlling and CFO positions in international Swiss companies
- 2 years operational activity in Middle Asia



Roland Kleeb
Managing Partner
THE COSMOPOLITAN
- NDS Executive Master in Corporate Finance
- Bachelor degree in economics
- Licensed fiduciary expert
- Several Controlling and CFO positions in international Swiss companies



Rebecca Gloden
Contract Management
The reliable one
She gets her energy from windsurfing, her inspiration from gardening and the patience required to perform well in her job from her kindergarten-aged son. These are precisely the skills that are indispensable in our daily work
- Master of Science in Psychology USZ with Business Administration and Labor Law
- Federal diploma in Human Resources
- HR-Advisor
- Payroll Specialist
- Procurement Service Coordinator for IT-Specialists



Patrick Comboeuf
Member of the Board & Senior Partner
YOUR SILICON VALLEY ACCOMPLICE
Visionary thinking paired pragmatic implementation skills. Whether working on the most downloaded Swiss mobile app (SBB Mobile) or implementing viable digital transformation initiatives in the most customer-centric way, Patrick is definitely leaving his marks. As an avid skier & golfer with single handicap also on the slopes & greens.
• M. Econs
• CAS Change Management & Digital Leadership
• Director of Studies at the HWZ Hochschule für Wirtschaft (School of Business)
• Decades of an impeccable track record in management , among others, as Head of Digital, CMO, CTO and in business development for manufacturing and (financial) services companies in Switzerland, Europe, the USA and Asia
• 4 years of on-shore operational management experience in Southeast Asia



Stephan Rusch
Senior Partner
THE REALIST
- Master degree in law (lic. iur. HSG)
- Master degree in economics (lic. oec. HSG)
- Controller Academy Deyhle
- Several Controlling and CFO positions in international Swiss companies



Christian Holderegger
Senior Partner
THE FOCUSED
- Bachelor degree in Business Administration
- CAS Turnaround Management
- Controller Academy Deyhle
- Several Management positions as Head of Finance & Controlling and CFO with international Swiss and foreign groups
- 2 years of operational experience in Asia



Volker Nothacker
Business Development
THE FREE SPIRIT
- Many years of experience as Auditor and Board Member of a German bank
- Many years of experience as Consultant and Interim Manager (internationally)
- Business Unit responsibility for the scale up of an Interim Executive practise
- Coaching & Mediation
At FS Partners, responsible for:
- Support and build up of pool of experts
- Coaching and support of Mandates
- Sales and Marketing



Christian Nauer
Senior Partner
THE MAN OF ACTION
- M.A. in Finance and Capital Markets
- CFA Charterholder
- Startup Board Academy
- Serial Entrepreneur (12+ years) as a member of the management team / board of directors of several scale-ups
- Offers support in scaling, fundraising, restructuring and digital transformation
- 2.5 years working abroad (New York)



Tom Schlup
Partner
THE PACE SETTER
No matter whether as a drummer in a band in the past or in his professional life as a project manager, financial specialist or consultant, Tom always finds the right tone, reliably sets the right tempo and can also bash the drum if necessary. This makes him a dependable partner even in hectic times.
Executive Master of Business Administration
Business economist FH
IPMA Level C Project Management
CAS Financial Management
CAS Project Management
Various finance & controlling as well as M&A project management positions in service, trading and manufacturing companies
Several years of experience in advising and supporting start-up and scale-up companies.



Isabelle Weber
Associate Partner
Scaleup Desk
THE POWER WOMAN
The digital CFO recharges her batteries with sports, in particular hiking and skiing. She expands her horizons on her various travels while exploring foreign cultures. And as for her professional love – inspiring start-ups – Isabelle lets this bundled energy coupled with her great expertise run free.
- MBA Strategic Controlling
- Expert in Accounting and Controlling
- Certification in Finance and Accounting
- Specialized in setting up sound foundations for management decisions and in uncovering optimization potential in the financial area
- Several years of experience in corporate accounting and controlling as well as in supporting scaleups as consultant or interim CFO.



Christian Egner
Partner
L’ALLEMAND
- Higher professional diploma in banking (D)
- Group-internal Leadership Training
- Positions in Audit, Controlling and as a CFO in international Swiss industrial groups
- Long-standing experience in French-speaking countries (France, North Africa)



Daniel Bulgheroni
Partner
THE BALANCED
- Certified expert in Accounting and Controlling
- SKU Advanced Management Program
- MAS in Corporate Finance
- Several Controlling and CFO positions in international Swiss companies



Markus Staub
Partner
THE ROCK IN THE SURF
- Executive MBA University Zurich
- Bachelor degree in Business Administration
- Several CFO and Management positions mainly in international Swiss industrial groups



René Lirgg
Partner
THE RELAXED
- Executive MBA FH Lucerne
- Bachelor in Business Administration
- Swiss Certified Controller SIB
- Various CFO and Management positions with international and Swiss companies
- Several years of operational activities in Brazil, USA and China



Erich Peter
Partner
THE EXPLORER
- Bachelor degree in Economics
- Certified public accountant
- CAS EVU Manager St. Gallen
- Expert Swiss GAAP FER
- Several Audit, Controlling and CFO positions in international Swiss companies
- Several years of operational activity in UK, France and Spain



Dennis Ziegenhagen
Partner
THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER
In his professional life and as a passionate swimmer, Dennis is used to jumping into cold water. He dives deep and always finds the way up. And he is fast, with his analytical and creative talent for improvisation, he always manages to do provide the best results, even when the air is thin.
- Swiss Certified Expert in Accounting and Controlling
- CAS Taxation, Kalaidos FH
- Registered auditor RAB
- Sales University IBM
- Various CFO and management positions in service, trading and manufacturing companies



Ingo Schmuckli
Senior Consultant
THE INSIDER
- MAS Design Engineering / Innovation
- Executive MBA ZHW
- MSc ETH



Frank Stotzem
Associate Partner
OUR MAN IN CHINA
As a Leader, with over 24 years of international finance experience, Frank likes gardening and biking, where finds his balance, to the fast-paced Chinese working environment.
- MBA Rutgers University
- Controller Akademie Deyhle
- Several Controlling positions in German MNC
- 18 years international operational activities in China and USA



Nuo Hasenfratz
Associate Partner
OUR WOMAN IN ASIA
The financial specialist, who lives in Shanghai, loves Switzerland. As a vacation destination, the mentality and she is even married to a Swiss. A stroke of luck. Or in other words: Nuo is the fiver, the «Weggli» (bread bun) and the Dim Sum for our customers and us.
- MBA US Webster & Shanghai University of Finance and Economics
- Diploma in International Trade
- Vice General Manager, Head of Finance & Administration und Head of HR in companies of the textile machinery industry, medical industry, automotive industry and food industry
- Fluent in Chinese, English and German



Leandro Aeschlimann
Associate Partner
Scaleup Desk
THE MULTILINGUAL
His mother is Brazilian, his father Swiss, and his wife Mexican: But the accomplished amateur chef, club soccer player, and father of three speaks one more important language, namely technology. From ERP systems to Power BI and data analytics, he not only understands the nuances of code, but can also translate them into easy-to-understand images and concepts as a sparring partner for the C-Levels.
- BSC Business Economics, University of Applied Sciences
- Certified SAFe® 4 Product Owner/Product Manager
- Certified SAFe® 4 Agilist
- Specialized in Power BI & data analytics, ERP evaluations and implementations, system integrations and master data solutions.



Lukas Gysin
Associate Partner
Scaleup Desk
THE ENTREPRENEUR
Lukas, the IT-savvy active/passive sportsman and hobby gardener has always had a nose for scalable innovation. Among other things, his startup uniqFEED develops solutions for personalized advertising in live sports. The versatile entrepreneur and father of four is the ideal sparring partner to help your startup flourish.
- Certified Public Accountant
- MBA University of Rochester NY U.S.
- Founder of uniqFEED AG – Virtual Sport Advertising Technology
- Founder of smartGAP GmbH – Consultancy Boutique for Startups and Corporates
- Several years’ experience as auditor, CFO, CEO and as entrepreneur
- Several years’ experience as a member of the board of directors



Roland Bendel
Associate Partner
OUR MAN IN THE USA
A Swiss living in New York City, Roland has been married to an American for two decades and therefore understands the national business practices and is very familiar with American culture. He is especially fond of their two precious cats, plus he enjoys travelling, tether car racing and jogging.
- Master’s degree in Business Economics/Finance
- Multiple executive courses in Finance and Leadership (e.g. US-GAAP)
- Diploma in Precision Machining & Manufacturing from Switzerland
- Various CFO positions in international technology companies headquartered in Switzerland or Germany
- Core-competency in re-alignment and restructuring of under/non performing finance departments
- Work experience in the USA, APAC, South Africa, the Netherlands, Switzerland
- Founding Member of IndustryControlling LLC, New York

Simon Frei
Managing Partner / CEO

THE DRIVER
As an entrepreneur, family man with international experience and three energetic teenage boys, winter sportsman and summer bon vivant, Simon knows how to keep all of life’s balls in the air.
- Executive MBA Rochester-Bern
- Bachelor in Business Administration
- CAS Blockchain Economy HWZ
- Digital CFO IFZ
- Board Academy ZHAW
- Controller Akademie Deyhle
- Several Controlling and CFO positions in international Swiss companies
- 5 years operational activity in China
Werner Schiesser
Managing Partner

THE ANCHOR
There is hardly anyone who has seen as much of the financial world as Werner. Whether small or large company, NPO or public sector, he knows them all. And anyone who does it as groundedly as he does, may also confidently enjoy his free time in nature and playing the alphorn.
- lic.iur. HSG
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
- Certified Fraud Examiner
- 30 years of experience as a CPA and fraud examiner, 10 years of experience as a CEO in the service and consulting industry
- Various board mandates
Markus Ziegler
Managing Partner

THE RESTING POOL
Calm and power – and both in due time. Just as Markus relaxes at home in his idyllic house in the picturesque Appenzell to jump straight back into action when needed, he first listens attentively and then purposefully does the right thing.
- Bachelor degree in Economics
- CAS in KMU Management
- CAS Blockchain Economy HWZ
- Several Audit, Controlling and CFO positions in international Swiss companies
- 2 years operational activity in Middle Asia
Roland Kleeb
Managing Partner

THE COSMOPOLITAN
When Roland muses about his travels to other countries and cultures in the garden of his old house in France, his liberal view of things is confirmed, that only those who think laterally can really get ahead. This is something that not only we appreciate, but also our customers.
- NDS Executive Master in Corporate Finance
- Bachelor degree in economics
- Licensed fiduciary expert
- Several Controlling and CFO positions in international Swiss companies
Rebecca Gloden
Contract Management

THE RELIABLE ONE
- Master of Science in Psychology USZ with Business Administration and Labor Law
- Federal diploma in Human Resources
- HR-Advisor
- Payroll Specialist
- Procurement Service Coordinator for IT-Specialists
Patrick Comboeuf
Member of the Board & Senior Partner

YOUR SILICON VALLEY ACCOMPLICE
Visionary thinking paired pragmatic implementation skills. Whether working on the most downloaded Swiss mobile app (SBB Mobile) or implementing viable digital transformation initiatives in the most customer-centric way, Patrick is definitely leaving his marks. As an avid skier & golfer with single handicap also on the slopes & greens.
• M. Econs
• CAS Change Management & Digital Leadership
• Director of Studies at the HWZ Hochschule für Wirtschaft (School of Business)
• Decades of an impeccable track record in management , among others, as Head of Digital, CMO, CTO and in business development for manufacturing and (financial) services companies in Switzerland, Europe, the USA and Asia
• 4 years of on-shore operational management experience in Southeast Asia
Volker Nothacker
Pool of Experts / Business Development

THE FREE SPIRIT
As a person who enjoys movement, Volker likes to ensure that things are in a state of flux and that there is room for development. This applies to the people around him, his positive attitude, being with his family and also to his projects.
- Many years of experience as Auditor and Board Member of a German bank
- Many years of experience as Consultant and Interim Manager (internationally)
- Business Unit responsibility for the scale up of an Interim Executive practise
- Coaching & Mediation
At FS Partners, responsible for:
- Support and build up of pool of experts
- Coaching and support of Mandates
- Sales and Marketing
STEPHAN RUSCH
Senior Partner

THE REALIST
Stephan knows: Learning from history is a head start for the future. That’s why he expands his horizons not only with his mountain activities in Appenzell and Toggenburg, but also by reading historical and political literature.
- Master degree in law (lic. iur. HSG)
- Master degree in economics (lic. oec. HSG)
- Controller Academy Deyhle
- Several Controlling and CFO positions in international Swiss companies
Christian Holderegger
Senior Partner

THE FOCUSED
The mischievous smile is no accident. Anyone who has seen as much of the world as Christian and yet found his dream home in beautiful Central Switzerland knows that the closest solution is often the best.
- Bachelor degree in Business Administration
- Controller Academy Deyhle
- Group internal international leadership trainings
- Several Management positions as Head of Finance & Controlling and CFO with international Swiss and foreign groups
- 2 years of operational experience in Asia
Christian Nauer
Senior Partner

THE MAN OF ACTION
Not many can claim to be a trained French horn player like Christian. Which only proves that as a musician, handball referee in the national squad, cooking family man and financial specialist, he competently finishes what he begins.
- M.A. in Finance and Capital Markets
- CFA Charterholder
- Startup Board Academy
- Serial Entrepreneur (12+ years) as a member of the management team / board of directors of several scale-ups
- Offers support in scaling, fundraising, restructuring and digital transformation
- 2.5 years working abroad (New York)
Tom Schlup
Partner

THE PACE SETTER
No matter whether as a drummer in a band in the past or in his professional life as a project manager, financial specialist or consultant, Tom always finds the right tone, reliably sets the right tempo and can also bash the drum if necessary. This makes him a dependable partner even in hectic times.
Executive Master of Business Administration
Business economist FH
IPMA Level C Project Management
CAS Financial Management
CAS Project Management
Various finance & controlling as well as M&A project management positions in service, trading and manufacturing companies
Several years of experience in advising and supporting start-up and scale-up companies.
ISABELLE WEBER
Associate Partner
Scaleup Desk

THE POWER WOMAN
The digital CFO recharges her batteries with sports, in particular hiking and skiing. She expands her horizons on her various travels while exploring foreign cultures. And as for her professional love – inspiring start-ups – Isabelle lets this bundled energy coupled with her great expertise run free.
- MBA Strategic Controlling
- Expert in Accounting and Controlling
- Certification in Finance and Accounting
- Specialized in setting up sound foundations for management decisions and in uncovering optimization potential in the financial area
- Several years of experience in corporate accounting and controlling as well as in supporting scaleups as consultant or interim CFO.
Christian Egner
Partner

L’ALLEMAND
As a Munich native, he naturally combines the qualities of unshakable calm and healthy tenacity, which he enriched with French lightness while in the language region. Or as his clients like to say: «Chapeau, Christian!»
- Higher professional diploma in banking (D)
- Group-internal Leadership Training
- Positions in Audit, Controlling and as a CFO in international Swiss industrial groups
- Long-standing experience in French-speaking countries (France, North Africa)
Daniel Bulgheroni
Partner

THE BALANCED
As a board member of a retirement, nursing and residential centre and a breeder of aquarium fish, Daniel combines responsibility and quality in a relaxed manner, just as he does with his mandates. An upbeat relaxation that he gets from his weekly dance evenings with his wife.
- Certified expert in Accounting and Controlling
- SKU Advanced Management Program
- MAS in Corporate Finance
- Several Controlling and CFO positions in international Swiss companies
Markus Staub
Partner

THE ROCK IN THE SURF
Markus draws his strength from the mountains and lakes in Central Switzerland. They ground him, sharpen his focus, keep him calm and energised, and make him a persevering and goal-oriented partner not only in sports. Solid as a rock, unflappable even on international parquet.
- Executive MBA University Zurich
- Bachelor degree in Business Administration
- Several CFO and Management positions mainly in international Swiss industrial groups
René Lirgg
Partner

THE RELAXED
If you, like René, don’t take yourself too seriously, you don’t rely on quick fixes. Instead, you focus on solutions that are a good all-round fit. And he succeeds admirably, combining Swiss thoroughness, German precision with a dash of Italianità and sportsmanship.
- Executive MBA FH Lucerne
- Bachelor in Business Administration
- Swiss Certified Controller SIB
- Various CFO and Management positions with international and Swiss companies
- Several years of operational activities in Brazil, USA and China
ERICH PETER
Partner

THE EXPLORER
Just as much as Erich likes to come home to the Rhine Valley, the sporty cosmopolitan likes to go on voyages of exploration: intellectually, personally, culinary and, of course, professionally, where he never gives up before the best solution is on the table.
- Bachelor degree in Economics
- Certified public accountant
- CAS EVU Manager St. Gallen
- Expert Swiss GAAP FER
- Several Audit, Controlling and CFO positions in international Swiss companies
- Several years of operational activity in UK, France and Spain
Dennis Ziegenhagen
Partner

THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER
In his professional life and as a passionate swimmer, Dennis is used to jumping into cold water. He dives deep and always finds the way up. And he is fast, with his analytical and creative talent for improvisation, he always manages to do provide the best results, even when the air is thin.
- Swiss Certified Expert in Accounting and Controlling
- CAS Taxation, Kalaidos FH
- Registered auditor RAB
- Sales University IBM
- Various CFO and management positions in service, trading and manufacturing companies
Ingo Schmuckli
Senior Consultant

THE INSIDER
Ingo is the only one who also knows how to build what our customers build. After all, as an engineer and industrial designer, he is just as creative as he is structured. That’s why he is also the only one person, who, in order to be closer to everything, will drive his camper van to your work.
- MAS Design Engineering / Innovation
- Executive MBA ZHW
- MSc ETH
Frank Stotzem
Associate Partner
International

OUR MAN IN CHINA
As a Leader, with over 24 years of international finance experience, Frank likes gardening and biking, where finds his balance, to the fast-paced Chinese working environment.
- MBA Rutgers University
- Controller Akademie Deyhle
- Several Controlling positions in German MNC
- 18 years international operational activities in China and USA
Nuo Hasenfratz
Associate Partner
International

OUR WOMAN IN ASIA
The financial specialist, who lives in Shanghai, loves Switzerland. As a vacation destination, the mentality and she is even married to a Swiss. A stroke of luck. Or in other words: Nuo is the fiver, the «Weggli» (bread bun) and the Dim Sum for our customers and us.”
- MBA US Webster & Shanghai University of Finance and Economics
- Diploma in International Trade
- Vice General Manager, Head of Finance & Administration und Head of HR in companies of the textile machinery industry, medical industry, automotive industry and food industry
- Fluent in Chinese, English and German
LEANDRO AESCHLIMANN
Associate Partner
Scaleup Desk

THE MULTILINGUAL
His mother is Brazilian, his father Swiss, and his wife Mexican: But the accomplished amateur chef, club soccer player, and father of three speaks one more important language, namely technology. From ERP systems to Power BI and data analytics, he not only understands the nuances of code, but can also translate them into easy-to-understand images and concepts as a sparring partner for the C-Levels.
- BSC Business Economics, University of Applied Sciences
- Certified SAFe® 4 Product Owner/Product Manager
- Certified SAFe® 4 Agilist
- Specialized in Power BI & data analytics, ERP evaluations and implementations, system integrations and master data solutions.
LUKAS GYSIN
Associate Partner
Scaleup Desk

THE ENTREPRENEUR
Lukas, the IT-savvy active/passive sportsman and hobby gardener has always had a nose for scalable innovation. Among other things, his startup uniqFEED develops solutions for personalized advertising in live sports. The versatile entrepreneur and father of four is the ideal sparring partner to help your startup flourish.
- Certified Public Accountant
- MBA University of Rochester NY U.S.
- Founder of uniqFEED AG – Virtual Sport Advertising Technology
- Founder of smartGAP GmbH – Consultancy Boutique for Startups and Corporates
- Several years’ experience as auditor, CFO, CEO and as entrepreneur
- Several years’ experience as a member of the board of directors
Roland Bendel
Associate Partner
International

OUR MAN IN THE USA
A Swiss living in New York City, Roland has been married to an American for two decades and therefore understands the national business practices and is very familiar with American culture. He is especially fond of their two precious cats, plus he enjoys travelling, tether car racing and jogging.
- Master’s degree in Business Economics/Finance
- Multiple executive courses in Finance and Leadership (e.g. US-GAAP)
- Diploma in Precision Machining & Manufacturing from Switzerland
- Various CFO positions in international technology companies headquartered in Switzerland or Germany
- Core-competency in re-alignment and restructuring of under/non performing finance departments
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You & us
No matter what problems you are facing in your finance processes, for us the first step is always a non-binding and free evaluation of the situation. Therefore: Simply get started. We are ready for your challenge and look forward to talking to you.