New Executive Board members welcomed with coffee and cake
There were cakes and drinks aplenty on Monday as Lino Guzzella, the new President of ETH Zurich, joined ETH members in celebrating the beginning of a new year – and the start of his term in office.
Just as the old year was rung out with a drinks reception, the New Year was heralded in with one too. On Monday afternoon, the new Executive Board invited guests to come and share coffee and cake – first on the Hönggerberg campus and then in the Main Building.
“My predecessor Ralph Eichler always used to say that ETH is governed by drinks receptions,” said newly appointed President Lino Guzzella in his speech. “And I have no intention of changing that.” He took advantage of the opportunity to introduce the members of the Executive Board to the ETH members present: new Rector Sarah Springman, new Vice President Research and Corporate Relations Detlef Günther and the two existing members Roman Boutellier and Robert Perich, who have been serving as Vice President Human Resources and Infrastructure and Vice President Finance and Controlling respectively since 2008.
Ideas wanted
Lino Guzzella called on staff to play an active part in ETH Zurich – by coming up with ideas that can drive the university forward, for example, or by making suggestions for improvement.
“ETH has around 18,000 students, 6,000 employees, 500 professors and 177 plus three trainees,” said Lino Guzzella, before going on to explain: “By ‘plus three trainees’ I mean us three new members of the Executive Board. Please bear with us and be patient with us if we don’t quite do everything perfectly yet as we tackle our new roles.”
