Switzerland's central bank has found a new head for its communications department, as part of the retirement of veteran Werner Abegg in Feburary of next year. His replacement comes from UBS.
Susanne Muehlemann, currently head of strategic communication for UBS' Swiss activities, will take over the Swiss National Bank's communications by March 2017, the central bank said in a statement.
Communications and public activities have taken on added importance for the central bank since it has been fighting to keep the Swiss franc from strengthening beyond a level it sees as acceptable for Switzerland's economy.
In 2011, it hired prominent former journalist Walter Meier as its spokesman, promoting Werner Abegg to the overall communications head post. Meier, together with his deputy Silvia Oppliger, remain the SNB's media spokespeople.
Ex Journalist
Muehlemann, a political scientist, has also worked as a business journalist for publications in Switzerland including Aargauer Zeitung, Sonntagsblick and Bilanz, where she penned a popular column about societal gatherings in business circles.
She switched sides in 2010 to become head of external and internal communications for Swiss Airlines. She has been in her current job at UBS for nearly two years.
