Media release, 10 September 2026

After two decades, Founder Dr. Peter Wuffli and CEO Andreas Kirchschläger hand over operational leadership. Andreas Kirchschläger becomes Executive Chairman, while Adrian Ackeret and Niloufar Aazam-Zanganeh are appointed Co-CEOs – effective January 1, 2027.

The elea Foundation for Ethics in Globalization, a philanthropic impact investor based in Zurich with hubs in Johannesburg and Mexico City, today announced a planned generational transition in its leadership. After nearly two decades of building and leading elea, Founder and Chairman Peter Wuffli and Founding Partner and CEO Andreas Kirchschläger will hand over operational leadership at the end of 2026. Andreas Kirchschläger will become Executive Chairman, while Adrian Ackeret, Partner and Chief Investment Officer, and Niloufar Aazam-Zanganeh, Partner and Chief Financial Officer, will take over as Co-CEOs.

A transition from a position of strength
The move is a deliberate step, carefully prepared over several years and made from a position of strength. As elea marks 20 years and its impact continues to accelerate, the moment is right to entrust the foundation to a team that has helped shape it for years. Peter Wuffli will step back from operational leadership, remain on the Board of Trustees through 2027, and continue to be engaged for elea as founder and mentor. The elea team and Board of Trustees are deeply thankful for Peter Wuffli’s outstanding vision, leadership, and support that helped build elea as an organization with its impact. They look forward to continuing to benefit from his experience and counsel.

“Reaching such a milestone is a moment of gratitude to all those who made this possible: our impact entrepreneurs who fight poverty on a daily basis; our team that effectively partners with our entrepreneurs, and our investors and friends who provide resources and encouragement," says Peter Wuffli, Founder and Chairman of elea.

A proven, complementary new team
The transition follows a considered succession process. As Executive Chairman, Andreas Kirchschläger will drive elea's strategic vision and safeguard continuity, while keeping the Board of Trustees closely connected to the work of the team, the ventures and elea's stakeholders. Adrian Ackeret and Niloufar Aazam-Zanganeh will lead elea as Co-CEOs, bringing complementary strengths and a strong partnership to their new roles. In the same spirit, Stefan Kappeler, currently Partner and Chief Operating Officer, will step into the role of Senior Partner and join the Board of Trustees, contributing his deep expertise in this new role.  

Reflecting the growth of the organization, elea will also broaden its leadership team which will be steered by an Executive Committee, consisting of the two Co-CEOs, Gerald Weigl, who currently leads elea's impact value creation and will become Co-Head of Philanthropic Investments, and Tina Ruchti, who will continue to lead elea's Latin America hub in Mexico City.

“Adrian and Niloufar are exceptionally well prepared to lead elea into its next chapter. I’m very much looking forward to continuing our joint journey with these two outstanding Co-CEOs, a fantastic leadership team, and all our ambitious, highly committed and talented colleagues. We are grateful for what we have achieved over the last two decades but also aware that there is still a lot to do. Together with our loyal partners, we are determined to gain further ground in our global fight against absolute poverty,” says Andreas Kirchschläger, Founding Partner and CEO, becoming Executive Chairman.

“We are honored to be entrusted with leading elea into an exciting next phase of its development together with our colleagues in the leadership team and the whole elea team of outstanding professionals. We have lived elea's purpose and values for years and share a deep conviction in its model. That is why we are committed to protecting what makes it special and to building on it, with the same care our entrepreneurs and partners know and with clear ambition for what lies ahead," say incoming Co-CEOs Adrian Ackeret and Niloufar Aazam-Zanganeh.

Continuity and innovation at the core
For elea's stakeholders, the essentials remain unchanged. While the foundation's purpose, its Vision 2030 and its way of working continue as before, a new generation takes the helm with a strong mandate for on-going innovation and realizing opportunities. Peter Wuffli and Andreas Kirchschläger remain there to support along the way. Anchored in a highly committed Comité de Patronage, loyal investors and a growing circle of stakeholders, elea looks to the future from a position of strength and confidence.

About elea
elea fights absolute poverty with entrepreneurial means. As an active philanthropic impact investor, elea supports impact entrepreneurs and their ventures in the post-startup and growth phase in combining long-term economic success with sustainable, measurable impact. To this end, elea provides its portfolio companies not only with capital, but also with business know-how, coaching, and access to the global elea network. As such, elea sees itself as a growing community of committed entrepreneurs and philanthropic investors.

Media contact
media@elea.org · www.elea.org
Romy Sauer, Senior Communications Specialist
Romée Räbiger, Communications Consultant

Dr. Peter Wuffli, Andreas Kirchschläger, Adrian Ackeret and Niloufar Aazam-Zanganeh are available for background conversations and interviews on request.

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