Victor Sonnevelt
SALES DIRECTOR
Educational background:
BA in History
Several Language Diplomas
Professional stations:
Over 20 years' experience in the Financial Industry:
Of which more than 10 years in Private Banking
and the last 5 ½ in the area of PPLI Solutions
Important values:
Success is a science; if you have the conditions, you get the result.
-Oscar Wilde-
Patrick Knecht
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Educational background:
30+ years a Service Provider within the Financial & IT services area. Federal certificate in Project management further specializing in operational excellence and organizational Development (University Witten, Germany)
Professional stations:
15 years CEO and owner of a Business & IT Consulting Company specializing in corporate optimization, process & cost efficiency. 8 years as CEO/COO of Skandia Leben AG.
Important values:
Strive for continuous improvement - never stop trying, failing, learning, because there is always a little more to achieve
Yannick Häni
MEMBER 1291 GROUP
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT
Educational background:
Master of Law in international taxation (LL.M.) and Bachelor of Business Law (B.LAW)
Professional stations:
CEO of 1291Group Asia since 2016, Sales Partner of various 1291Group entities since 2014, Sales Manager for Northern Europe for Valorlife Life Insurance Company from 2012 to 2014
Important values:
You have to learn the rule of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else. - Albert Einstein
Merve Aksoy
HEAD OF FINANCE
Educational background:
Commercial apprenticeship EFZ and Advanced Federal Diploma of Higher Education in Business Administration
Professional stations:
Over 5 year experience as an Accountant in an international company in different sectors. With the 1291 Group since 2018.
Important values:
Surround yourself with good people. Do what makes you happy and be grateful for everything you have. Appreciate your life. You will attract positivity, happiness and joy.
Victor Sonnevelt
SALES DIRECTOR
Educational background:
BA in History
Several Language Diplomas
Professional stations:
Over 20 years' experience in the Financial Industry:
Of which more than 10 years in Private Banking
and the last 5 ½ in the area of PPLI Solutions
Important values:
Success is a science; if you have the conditions, you get the result.
-Oscar Wilde-
Galina Strub
SALES & OPERATIONS MANAGER
Educational background:
Gakushuin University, Japan ( Intercultural Communications & Japanese Language).
University of Portsmouth, England ( International Trade & English).
Professional stations:
Great experiences of learning and working abroad.
Important values:
My family is the most important thing in my life. I enjoy learning new things and can adapt quickly to changes. My values: commitment, flexibility, fairness and integrity.
Sebastian Lauke
PARTNER
Educational background:
Economist & Insurance specialist
Professional stations:
Sebastian has over 15 years of experience in the insurance and finance industry. He is owner of a consulting company with a focus on data analysis and control. Previously, he worked as an insurance broker and advisor for companies in various positions, mainly in the private client sector.
Important values:
The simplicity of a solution lies in the sharpness of the focus on it.
Daniel Koller
HEAD LEGAL & COMPLIANCE
Educational background:
Doctor of Laws (Dr. iur.), 20 years of experience in the financial sector,
different management positions in the past
Professional stations:
Employments with several domestic and international insurers, currently member of the Executive Committee of 1291 Group
Important values:
I envisage to create an added-value to the concrete situation. I believe in trust, partnership and loyalty. The only way to build a strong work ethic is getting your hands dirty.
Petra Fuhrmann
SALES & OPERATIONS MANAGER
Educational background:
Commercial apprenticeship EFZ and 30 years of banking experience. Bachelor in Private Banking and Financial Planning. Fluent in several Languages.
Professional stations:
20 years in Private Banking Client Advisory for HNWI. With the 1291 Group since 2015.
Important values:
The whole shall always be more than the sum of its parts (inspired by Aristotle).
David Gregory
PARTNER
Educational background:
Over 30 years' experience working in the financial services, holding various technical and leadership roles for companies such as Axa, Canada Life and the Generali Group. Responsible for insurance solutions for high and ultra-high net worth clients including unique estate planning solutions. Responsible for training professional advisers. Obtained UK Diploma in financial planning 2007.
Professional stations:
Head of Institutional Business for Canada Life. Head of UK & International business for Generali PanEurope. Partner 1291 Group.
Important values:
I will always work tirelessly on behalf of my clients for the best possible outcome.
I am passionate about protecting my client's wealth and planning for their family's future.
Martino Leonardi
PARTNER
Educational background:
Financial Planner, Certificate of National and International Tax Law, over 20 years experience in wealth and tax planning at various banks and unit-linked life insurance companies
Professional stations:
Member of the Executive Board Rheintal-Assets AG, Member of the Management Baloise Life Liechtenstein AG, Member of the Executive Board 1291 Group Switzerland / Europe
Important values:
Love and family are the most important of all values in life. Honesty and respect is something for strong people. The best ideas reach me, when I imagine, I am my own client.
Adrian Lüthi
PARTNER
Educational background:
Master of Business Administration at the University of Zurich and Murcia (Spain) / 20 years' experience in the Finance industry, thereof 15 years international PPLI tax and wealth advisory / Post graduate studies at ETH Zurich.
Professional stations:
Past: Successfully building up the PPLI business with one of the top-tier Insurance companies in Switzerland/Europe. Today: PPLI expert in the Latin American markets, Israel and Turkey / Broad working experience in New York and Spain over 2 years.
Important values:
More than believing but living: Trust – Long-term partnerships begins with a trustful relation. Quality – Focused on best possible solutions to protect and maintain family wealth. Tailor-made – Every client is special and unique. Private – Understanding family needs as a dedicated father and husband.
Dragan Miljkovic
HEAD OF OPERATIONS -
EUROPE
Educational background:
26 years of experience in insurance business
Professional stations:
Chief Sales Officer at Uniqa Lebensversicherung AG Liechtenstein
Important values:
Solution oriented mindset. Dedicated to my family and work life. There is always value in effort.
Serge Hediger
MEMBER 1291 GROUP
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT
Educational background:
Master of Laws (LL.M.) & Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Professional stations:
Co-Founder and Managing Partner of various 1291 Group entities since 2014. From 2007 - 2014 CEO and Board Member of an Irish and Liechtenstein based international Life Insurance company with more than EUR 5 billion AuM. Various management positions with a listed Swiss Insurance Group from 1996 - 2007. Board member of the Liechtenstein Insurance Association from 2008 - 2015.
Important values:
Cooperation. Even the most complex tasks can be made simpler when we focus on the solutions - together.
Francine Ringhofer
GROUP HEAD OF COMPLIANCE
Educational background:
Over 30 years of experience in diverse management roles within the insurance industry. Completed a Master's course (MAS) in Advanced Studies in Business Excellence, with a Strategic Management Master's thesis at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU) in Switzerland. Additionally, pursued advanced studies in Private Banking in Liechtenstein and obtained certification in AML & Compliance.
Professional stations:
Francine Ringhofer began her career in management roles at a prominent Bank and Credit Card Company. Since 1991, she has worked in the insurance industry in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, holding positions such as Head of Operations, Sales Director for Life Insurance, Member of the Executive Board in the PPLI business, Product Manager, and Head of Legal & Compliance for both life and non-life insurance areas.
Important values:
Embrace new challenges, innovate processes, and share knowledge.
Alexander Mitev
PARTNER
Educational background:
Master Degree in Finance and Economics, University of Zurich
Professional stations:
Chief Representative Credit Suisse Group in Russia, Founder of different companies
Important values:
Fairness. Pursuit of Excellence. Innovation. Partnership.
Daniela R. Diriwächter
ACCOUNTANT
Educational background:
Advanced Federal Diploma of Higher Education in Business Administration, Commercial apprenticeship EFZ
Professional stations:
More than 13 years of professional experience in accounting and recently in HR, in several national and international companies. With 1291 Group since June 2021.
Important values:
If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at will change.