Three New Members Nominated for Election to the Board of Directors of RUAG International

On October 3, 2025, the current President of the Board of Directors, Rainer G. Schulz, as well as Board members Jürg Oleas and Andreas S. Spreiter, announced that they would not stand for re-election at the 2026 Annual General Meeting on April 20, 2026. At the Extraordinary General Meeting on December 19, 2025, Daniel Frutig-Meier was appointed to the Board of Directors effective January 1, 2026. He is expected to assume the role of President of the Board of Directors at the Annual General Meeting.

Targeted strengthening of the competence profile

The Federal Council has approved the nomination of the three new candidates, in addition to the two remaining members of the Board of Directors, Daniel Frutig-Meier and Déborah Carlson-Burkart. They are to be elected to the Board of Directors at the Annual General Meeting on April 20, 2026. In view of the strategic realignment of RUAG International, the search focused specifically on individuals who would strengthen the Board in the areas of space, technology, and innovation expertise that are central to the future development of Beyond Gravity, while continuing to cover the existing competencies in finance, controlling and risk management, as well as operations and supply chain.

Astrid Schnidrig brings a strong and proven competence profile, particularly in financial steering, risk and audit management, and governance. Prof. (h.c.) Dr. Lutz Bertling contributes technology and innovation leadership as well as a broad international network across the aerospace, technology, and defense industries. Dr. Michael Menking complements the Board of Directors with experience in operations, industrialization, and global supply chains, as well as in overseeing complex large-scale programs in the aerospace sector. Further information is available in the brief profiles in the appendix.

Following the election at the Annual General Meeting, the Board of Directors will consist of Daniel Frutig-Meier (President), Déborah Carlson-Burkart (Vice President), and members Astrid Schnidrig, Prof. (h.c.) Dr. Lutz Bertling, and Dr. Michael Menking.

Contact for media representatives: 
Philipp Bircher, VP Communications & Branding +41 79 790 11 81, philipp.bircher@beyondgravity.com

Astrid Schnidrig – Finance, Controlling & Risk/Audit

Astrid Schnidrig (Swiss citizen, born in 1968) is an independent board member with many years of CFO experience and strong governance expertise. Her key career positions include serving as CFO of BLS and holding several senior leadership positions at Lonza. As a board member, she also serves on the boards of Swissgrid, where she chairs the Finance and Audit Committee, and BVB Basler Verkehrsbetriebe, where she chairs the Finance and Controlling Committee. She therefore complements the RUAG International Board of Directors particularly in the areas of financial steering, risk and audit management, and governance, including the management of relationships with the owner, political stakeholders, and other stakeholder groups.

Prof. (h.c.) Dr. Lutz Bertling – Technology & Innovation

Prof. (h.c.) Dr. Lutz Bertling (German citizen, born in 1962) has international CEO, COO, program management, and strategy experience in aerospace as well as in technology-driven industries. His most important positions include serving as a member of the Management Board of OHB SE, one of Europe’s three major space systems companies, as President and COO of Bombardier Transportation Group, and as President and CEO of Eurocopter Group, now Airbus Helicopters, as well as a member of the Airbus Group Executive Committee. His international board experience includes, among other roles, serving as President of Australian Aerospace and Blue Horizon SARL, as a member of the boards of Airbus Americas, OHB Sweden, and OHB Italia, and holding various other supervisory board mandates in Germany and Europe. He complements RUAG International’s Board of Directors with strategic depth at the intersection of technology, innovation, and industrial implementation. 

Dr. Michael Menking – Operations & Supply Chain

Dr. Michael Menking (German citizen, born in 1964) has many years of leadership experience in operations, supply chain, and program management in aerospace. At Airbus, he was responsible, among other things, for the A320 Family program, previously led the A400M program, and served as CEO of Airbus Military S.L. In the space sector, he led, among other units at Airbus, Orbital Systems & Space Exploration as well as Earth Observation, Navigation and Science. He was responsible for programs for commercial and institutional customers such as ESA and NASA, including contributions to the International Space Station, ISS. His responsibilities also included US-related activities in Houston, Texas, and Titusville, Florida, as well as cooperation with various NASA centers. In addition, he has board experience, including as a member of the Board of Directors of Airbus Americas and ATFAC.