Patrick Naef is both a seasoned technology executive and a highly regarded consultant with vast expertise in digital transformation. He also has sector-specific expertise in airlines, aviation and other industries, gained through more than 20 years in senior leadership roles. Patrick brings a global perspective, having worked in various countries in Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.

Professional Focus

  • 20 years’ experience as a consultant/advisor and C-level executive, focused on technology within a range of sectors including airlines/aviation, travel & transportation, infrastructure, telecoms, consumer goods
  • Specialized expertise in digitization, digital business models, IT strategy, organizational development and technology-driven innovation
  • Extensive experience as a non-executive director and advisory board member on the boards of start-ups and multinationals in various industries
  • Fluent in German, French and English, with working knowledge of Spanish

Business Expertise

  • CEO and Founder of ITvisor GmbH, a boutique consulting firm specialising in digital transformation
  • Group Chief Information Officer and Divisional SVP, Member of Executive Management Board of Emirates Airline Group, Dubai, U.A.E.
  • CEO of Mercator, an Emirates Group subsidiary, provider of IT products and services to the travel & transportation industry, Dubai, U.A.E.
  • Director and Head of Global Infrastructure Projects at Zurich Financial Services (ZFS), Zurich, Switzerland
  • Group Chief Information Officer of SIG Holding AG (now SIG Combibloc Group), Neuhausen, Switzerland
  • Head of ISP Projects at Zurich Insurance
  • CEO and Board Chairman of SIG IT GmbH, part of SIG Group, Linnich, Germany
  • Chief Information Officer and Executive Vice President of Swissair and Swissair-Sabena Airline Management Partnership (AMP); Head of the Swissair Group CIO Board
  • Chief Technology Officer and founding member of Swissair online portal Beyoo.com, Zurich, Switzerland

Additional Expertise

  • IT Services
  • Aviation & Travel
  • Infrastructure & Transportation
  • Telecommunications
  • Financial Services
  • Consumer Products

Awards

  • Business Transformation 150, Constellation Research (2017)
  • Top 50 CIO Award, Computer News Middle East (2013)
  • CIO of the Decade, IDG, Computerwoche.de and German CIO Magazine (2011)
  • Aviation IT Manager of the Year, Aviation Business ME (2009)
  • Top 10 CIO Middle East Award, Computer News Middle East (2009)
  • CIO of the Year Runner-Up, IDG, Computerwoche.de and German CIO Magazine (2009)

Education & Certifications

  • Executive MBA from University of St. Gallen (HSG), St. Gallen, Switzerland
  • Master’s degree in Computer Science from Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Switzerland
  • Executive Program, Stanford Graduate School of Business, Stanford University, California, U.S.
  • Board Effectiveness Programme, Global Board Center, IMD Business School, Lausanne, Switzerland

Affiliations & Awards

Current

  • Non-Executive Director and Technology Committee Chairman, Board of Franke Holding AG
  • Member, Sapphire Ventures CXO Advisory Network, Palo Alto, California, U.S.
  • Member, Advisory Board of FlyNava Technologies, Bangalore, India
  • Member, CIO Advisory Board, Mayfield Ventures, Menlo Park, California, U.S.
  • Member, Sierra Ventures CXO Advisory Board, San Mateo, California, U.S.

Past

  • Non-Executive Director, Board of SITA, Geneva, Switzerland
  • Member, BT Group (British Telecom) Global Advisory Board, London, U.K.
  • Member, Capgemini International Executive Council, Paris, France
  • Non-Executive Director, board of mercator FZE, Dubai, UAE
  • Non-Executive Chairman, board of mercator Asia, Bangkok, Thailand
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