Céline Amaudruz faces criticism over independence and mandates

Céline Amaudruz, a Swiss National Councillor and candidate for the SVP Federal Council, is facing scrutiny regarding her professional independence and multiple corporate roles. The Ethos Foundation, which analyzes corporate governance for institutional investors, has repeatedly recommended her removal as chair of the board at Groupe Minoteries.

Ethos Director Vincent Kaufmann cited a lack of independence due to Amaudruz and her family holding a significant stake in the listed milling group. Additionally, the foundation raised concerns regarding ‘overboarding,’ suggesting she holds too many mandates to dedicate sufficient time to her responsibilities. Potential conflicts of interest were also noted regarding her parliamentary motions related to FINMA.

In response, Amaudruz stated that such attacks do not discourage her and instead strengthen her determination for her candidacy. Supporters, including SVP National Councillor Jean-Luc Addor, have defended her, suggesting that the criticism may stem from a regional bias against French-speaking Swiss politicians.