Switzerland-including 2006, over 300 companies have been visited

20 Best Receptions in Switzerland (in no particular order)

1. Barry Callebaut AG (Zollikon)
2. Roche Holding AG (Basel)
3. Cie Financiere Richemont AG (Zug/Geneva)
4. Nestle SA (Vevey)
5. Henniez SA (Henniez)
6. Holcim SA (Jona)
7. Datwyler Holding AG (Altdorf)
8. Migros (Zurich)
9. EUROFIMA (Basel)
10. Schweizerische National Vericherung (Basel)
11. Zurich Financial Group (Zurich)
12. ATEL (Olten)
13. Helvetia Patria Holding (St. Gallen)
14. Vacheron Constantin (Geneva)
15. Franke Holding AG (Aarburg)
16. Victorinox (Ibach)
17. Converium Holding AG (Zurich)
18. Givaudan SA (Geneva)
19. Phonak Holding AG (Staefa)
20. Glencore International AG (Baar)
21. Alusuisse-Lonza Holding Ltd. (Zurich)--since my visit Lonza was spun-off and Alusuisse was bought by Alcan, a Canadian company.

10 Worst Receptions in Switzerland

1. Crypto AG (Zug)--threatened to sue me.
2. Ascom Holding (Bern)
3. Forbo Holding SA (Eglisau)
4. Tetra Laval International S.A. (Pully)
5. TAG Heuer International SA (Marin)
6. Banque Privee Edmond de Rothschild SA (Geneva)
7. FIFA (Zurich)
8. Phoenix Mecano Management AG (Kusnacht)
9. Raymond Weil (Geneva)
10. Sika AG (Baar)

Switzerland Hall of Shame

1. EMS-CHEMIE Holding AG (Mannedorf)--visited in 1996 and revisited in 2002 to see if crummy first visit was a fluke. Nope, received a similar reception the second time.


Best Looking Headquarters in Switzerland

1. Zurich Financial Group (Zurich)
2. Feldschlosschen Hurlimann Holding (Rheinfelden)
3. Patek Philippe (Geneva)

Grading the Receptions at Swiss Banks

A-excellent B-good C-average D-poor F-dismal

Julius Baer Holding (Zurich)------A
Banca del Gottardo (Lugano)----A
Berner Kantonal Bank (Bern)-----A
Vontobel Holding AG (Zurich)-----A
Credit Suisse Group (Zurich)-----B
Schweizer Verband der Raiffeisenbanken (St. Gallen)-----B
Bank Sarasin & Cie (Basel)-----B
UBS (Zurich)-----B
Pictet & Cie (Geneva)-----C
Union Baincaire Privee (Geneva)-----D
Zuger Kantonal Bank (Zug)-----F
Lombard Odier & Cie (Geneva)-----F
Basler Kantonal Bank (Basel)-----F
Banque Privee Edmond de Rothschild SA (Geneva)-----F
Darier Hentsch & Cie (Geneva)-----F
Banque Cantonal Vaudoise (Lausanne)-----F
Coop Bank (Basel)-----F

Grading the Receptions at Swiss Chemical Companies

A-excellent B-good C-average D-poor F-dismal

Clariant AG (Basel)-----A
Lonza Group Ltd. (Basel)-----A
Ciba Specialty Chemicals Company (Basel)-----D
Silka AG (Baar)-----F
EMS-CHEMIE Holding AG (Mannedorf)-----F

Grading the Receptions at Swiss Insurers

A-excellent B-good C-average D-poor F-dismal

Helvetia Patria Holding (St. Gallen)-----A
Converium Holding AG (Zurich)-----A
Zurich Financial Group (Zurich)-----A
Baloise Holding (Basel)-----A
Vaudoise Assurance (Lausanne)-----B
Swiss Reinsurance Company (Zurich)-----B
Winterthur Insurance (Winterthur)-----C
Swiss Life and Pension Company (Zurich)-----C
Elvia (Zurich)-----F