Dr. Barbara Frei-Spreiter Appointed New CEO of RUAG International Holding AG and Beyond Gravity

With the appointment of Dr. Barbara Frei-Spreiter, RUAG International concludes the multi-stage search process to succeed André Wall as CEO of RUAG International and its space business, Beyond Gravity. Dr. Barbara Frei-Spreiter is a proven Swiss executive with over 25 years of international leadership experience in global industrial and high-tech companies. She possesses in-depth expertise in the further development of business models, operational excellence, technology and innovation, ramping up production capacity, and leading complex transformation and digitalization programs in regulated industrial environments. 

Daniel Frutig-Meier, designated Chairman of the Board of Directors of RUAG International, says: “With Dr. Barbara Frei-Spreiter, we are gaining a proven leader with a strong industrial and technological profile. She combines strategic clarity with operational execution, possesses a deep technical understanding, and remains exceptionally down-to-earth and close to the people. Her leadership strength is evident in her ability to empower teams and guide them through periods of change. With her many years of experience in large international industrial groups, she brings exactly the qualities we need for the stabilization, transformation, and further development of Beyond Gravity in the challenging space industry environment.”

Dr. Barbara Frei-Spreiter (born in 1970) is a Swiss citizen and lives in the Zurich area. She studied mechanical engineering, earned a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from ETH Zurich, and holds an Executive MBA from IMD in Lausanne. She began her professional career in 1998 at the technology group ABB. There, she assumed leadership roles in development and service, as well as global profit responsibility in various positions as country, regional, and business unit manager. In 2016, she joined the energy technology and automation group Schneider Electric, which employs 177,000 people worldwide, where she most recently served as a member of the Executive Committee and was responsible for the global Industrial Automation division, which generated revenue of 7,022 million euros. Prior to that, she led the European business and the DACH region, among other roles.

In addition to her operational experience, Dr. Barbara Frei-Spreiter brings board and governance experience to the table. This gives her a deep understanding of governance, compliance, and stakeholder management – topics that are central to RUAG International and Beyond Gravity as companies owned by the Swiss Confederation.

In June 2025, incumbent CEO André Wall announced that he would be leaving the company in mid-2026. He will continue to lead RUAG International and Beyond Gravity until Dr. Barbara Frei-Spreiter takes office on April 7, 2026. He will then work with her to ensure a smooth transition. The Board of Directors thanks André Wall for his extraordinary dedication during a challenging period. With determination and entrepreneurial drive, he has prepared Beyond Gravity for a potential sale over the past five and a half years and has significantly shaped Beyond Gravity’s positioning as a global space industry supplier. With the decision to keep Beyond Gravity under federal ownership, a new phase is now beginning: The company will strategically further develop its capabilities as a Swiss space services provider and expand internationally—in close coordination with the new leadership team.

Dr. Barbara Frei-Spreiter comments on her appointment as follows: “Beyond Gravity stands for technological excellence and innovation. The company combines its international focus with strong roots in Switzerland. At the same time, the space industry is evolving rapidly – toward greater industrialization, standardization, and speed. I look forward to working in this exciting environment alongside my future colleagues, drawing on their wealth of expertise from 60 years of space heritage to further strengthen the company’s financial and operational foundation and to drive the next development steps.”

Media contact: 
Philipp Bircher, Vice President Communications & Branding, +41 79 790 11 81, 
philipp.bircher@beyondgravity.com