Suzanne Alice Thoma (born 1962) is a Swiss chemical engineer, businesswoman and manager. She is Chairwoman and CEO of Sulzer Ltd., an industrial company listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange.Iris Kuhn-Spogat: Das Netzwerk von Sulzer-Präsidentin Suzanne Thoma in Politik und Wirtschaft In: Handelszeitung 6 April 2022. Retrieved 16 September 2026 (German)
Early life and education Suzanne Thoma grew up in Zug as the daughter of a physicist at ETH Zurich. After completing secondary school, she studied chemical engineering at ETH Zurich and earned her Doctor of Technical Sciences (PhD) degree in 1989 with the dissertation Interactions between macro- and micromixing in stirred tank reactors under the supervision of John Russel Bourne at the same institution.Thoma Hubis, Suzanne Alice: Interactions between macro- and micromixing in stirred tank reactors. Doctoral Thesis Nr. 9012, ETH Zurich. Retrieved 16 September 2026
Career
Beginning in 1990, she worked at Ciba Specialty Chemicals (acquired by BASF in 2009) in various roles until 2002. She joined BKW Energie (formerly Bernische Kraftwerke) in 2010 as head of the network division. In 2013, she became CEO of the company and led a strategically planned repositioning of BKW. As part of this effort, she implemented the shutdown of the company owned Mühleberg Nuclear Power Plant in 2019 for economic reasons. However, BKW’s original plan had envisioned building a powerful next generation replacement nuclear plant. After Switzerland’s political decision to phase out nuclear energy, this project was no longer feasible.Giorgio V. Müller: BKW-Chefin Suzanne Thoma: «Die Produktion von Strom ist defizitär» In: Neue Zürcher Zeitung 12 December 2017. Retrieved 16 September 2026 (German) She expanded BKW’s electrical installation business by acquiring 130 small and medium sized engineering firms and energy service providers in Switzerland and abroad. After being elected to the board of directors of Sulzer Ltd. in 2021, Thoma left BKW to join Sulzer and became chairwoman of the board in April 2022. As of 2022, she additionally assumed the role of CEO. In her dual capacity, Thoma appointed new members to Sulzer’s management team to realign the company.CEO-Wechsel bei Sulzer - Ist das nicht etwas gar viel Macht, Frau Thoma? Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (srf.ch) 17 October 2022. Retrieved 16 September 2026 (German) In 2024 the company presented a new strategy, Sulzer 2028, setting targets for growth and profitability.Alexander Saheb: Wir dürfen uns nicht in Details verlieren In: Finanz und Wirtschaft, 8 November 2024. Retrieved 16 September 2026 (German) Sulzer's share price rose substantially over the following period.Stefan Barmettler: Das darf nicht wahr sein Interview with Suzanne Thoma. In: Handelszeitung 10 September 2026. Retrieved 16 September 2026 (German)
Other activities Vice-Chair of Avenir Suisse, a Swiss foundation Member of the Swiss Academy of Engineering SciencesAbout SATW satw.ch. Retrieved 16 September 2026 Board member and investor Swiss Ventures Group AG, Zurich Member of the Board of Trustees ETH FoundationSuzanne Thome strengthens the Board of Trustees ETH Zurich Foundation, 9 December 2024. Retrieved 16 September 2026
Awards 2021 Honorary Councillor ETH ZurichGermaine J. F. Seewer and Suzanne Thoma appointed Honorary Councillors of ETH Zurich ETH Zürich Foundation, 20 November 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2026
References