24.10.2017 – 17:20

ORS sets up advisory board for migration issues
Former political leaders and migration experts from Switzerland and Austria to sit on advisory board

the former Swiss Federal Councillor Ruth Metzler-Arnold is chairing a new international advisory board for ORS, the provider of support services and accommodation for asylum seekers and refugees. The private company domiciled in Switzerland specialises in providing support, accommodation and integration services to asylum seekers and refugees in Switzerland, Austria, Germany and Slovakia. By setting up a competently staffed advisory board, the new ORS Group CEO Jürg Rötheli wishes to ensure the expert further development of the business departments in a field focused on what will be one of the most important topics in the future in Europe. It will be the task of the advisory board to provide a holistic assessment of current and future issues concerning migration and to propose solutions regarding the technical strategy to be adopted by the company's management.

Proven experts

An advisory board has been set up under the management of Ruth Metzler-Arnold, Switzerland's former Minister of Justice, Police and Migration (head of the Federal Department of Justice and Police) that is staffed with proven experts in the diverse field of migration. The members of the advisory board include Rita Fuhrer, former member and President of the Government Council of the canton of Zurich, Erwin Jutzet, former member of the Government Council of the canton of Fribourg and of the National Council and former President of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Council, and Dr Michael Spindelegger, former Vice-Chancellor (Minister of Finance and of Foreign Affairs) of Austria who has been Secretary General of the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) since January 2016. The advisory board will be expanded by a representative from Germany in the coming months.

For Jürg Rötheli, ORS CEO since May 2017, the composition of the new advisory board is of central importance to the work done by his company: 'The new advisory board will contribute valuable international expertise and a wealth of experience in the field of migration to our deeply committed company.'

ORS is an international company working in the field of migration

The Swiss company is currently working in Austria, Germany, Slovakia and Switzerland and specialises in providing efficient and secure support services to asylum seekers and refugees. The company works on behalf of the relevant countries, provinces or cantons and municipalities or communes. Cooperation with its customers is closely agreed with the competent authorities. In addition to providing support services and accommodation, ORS will in future devote much attention to the integration of asylum seekers and refugees into the labour markets of the aforementioned as well as other countries.

The company currently employs around 1,800 highly qualified people. The Group (ORS Group) is headquartered in Zurich in Switzerland.

Members of the ORS advisory board

Ruth Metzler-Arnold, Chair

Former Federal Councillor and Minister of Justice and Police. She belongs to the Swiss Christian Democratic People's Party (CVP). As minister, Ruth Metzler-Arnold was in charge of justice and security as well as migration affairs on behalf of the Swiss Confederation. Today, Ruth Metzler-Arnold sits on the boards of directors of and serves as advisor to several national and international companies. As a lawyer and certified public accountant, she serves as the chair, among others, of Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE).

Dr Michael Spindelegger

Former Vice-Chancellor of the Republic of Austria, Minister of Foreign Affairs and of Finance as a member of several Austrian governments. Michael Spindelegger has a doctorate in law and also served as the leader of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) from 2011 to 2014. Since the beginning of 2016, he has been serving as Secretary General of the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) in Vienna.

Erwin Jutzet

Former member of the National Council (Social Democratic Party, SP) and President of the Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC) and the Legal Affairs Committee (LAC). As National Councillor he also chaired the EFTA/European Parliament Delegation and the Judicial Committee. The lawyer was elected to the Government Council of Fribourg in 2006, and served as its President in 2011. During his time in office, the migration specialist submitted draft laws on the integration of migrants and on the prevention of racism.

Rita Fuhrer

Former member and President of the Government Council of the canton of Zurich (Swiss People's Party, SVP). The former Zurich cantonal politician twice served as the President of the Government Council of the canton of Zurich and successfully headed the Department of Social Affairs and Security, which included the Office for Migration and Asylum Welfare. Rita Fuhrer achieved national prominence as a migration expert and is considered to be an expert in matters of transport and air traffic. Today, she sits on various boards of directors and manages a small manufacturing company.

ORS Group/CEO:

Dr Jürg Rötheli has been the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the ORS Group, headquartered in Zurich, since May 2017. The career of the qualified lawyer spanned several executive positions with large Swiss and international companies. He was a member of the group executive board of the biggest Swiss telecommunications company Swisscom for many years and served as CEO of Clear Channel Switzerland and Vice-President Central Europe of Clear Channel International for more than six years. Clear Channel is a leading global media and outdoor advertising group headquartered in the USA. More information about Jürg Rötheli and ORS: www.ors.ch

Contact:

More information on the new ORS advisory board:
ORS Group
Media Office
c/o. KLAUS METZLER ECKMANN SPILLMANN
Hans Klaus
Basteiplatz 7
8001 Zurich/Schweiz

Telefon +41 43 544 17 44
Mobile +41 79 357 03 57
eMail klaus@kmespartner.com