elea announces leadership transition for 2027
elea enters its next chapter with a new generation of leadership
After two decades, our founder Peter Wuffli and CEO Andreas R. Kirchschlaeger will hand over operational leadership at the end of 2026. Andreas becomes Executive Chairman, driving our strategic vision. Adrian Ackeret (Partner & CIO) and Niloufar Aazam-Zanganeh (Partner & CFO) take over as Co-CEOs – a partnership forged over years of close collaboration.
This transition is carefully prepared, made from a position of strength. As elea marks 20 years and our impact accelerates, the time is right for Peter Wuffli to hand the foundation to a team he trusts, while staying engaged as founder and mentor through his board seat in 2027.
In the same spirit, Stefan Kappeler (Partner & COO) becomes Senior Partner and joins the Board of Trustees. Reflecting elea’s growth, we are also broadening our leadership team by an Executive Committee to steer the foundation – our two Co-CEOs alongside Gerald Weigl (incoming Co-Head of Philanthropic Investments) and Tina Ruchti (leading elea’s Latin America hub).
Nothing changes at the core: Our purpose, our way of working, and our commitment to fighting absolute poverty with entrepreneurial means continue exactly as before.
We are deeply grateful for our community’s trust and confidence that this new chapter secures what we’ve built together. Congratulations to our new leadership – we’re looking forward to what’s to come!
