Executive Summary
Federal President Guy Parmelin announced on April 22, 2026 the appointment of Jérôme Cosandey as deputy director of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). Cosandey assumes the position on May 1, 2026 while simultaneously retaining his role as head of the Labour Directorate. The PhD mechanical engineer has extensive experience in economic policy, think tank research, and financial services.
People
- Jérôme Cosandey (New Deputy SECO Director)
- Guy Parmelin (Federal President)
Topics
- Swiss economic policy
- SECO organizational structure
- Labour market and social policy
Clarus Lead
The appointment reinforces continuity in SECO leadership and signals a strategic prioritization of labour market and social policy expertise at management level. Cosandey's dual role – heading the Labour Directorate plus deputy executive management – suggests that labour will remain central in the coming year. His experience with demographic challenges and their economic consequences positions him for debates on pension and labour market reforms.
Detailed Summary
Cosandey has a hybrid-oriented career profile: technical training (mechanical engineering ETH), academic specialization (Master's degree in economic history University of Geneva) and 13 years leading research at Avenir Suisse, where he shaped social insurance, demographics and labour market debates. From 2018 onwards, as regional director, he led the think tank's activities in Western Switzerland. Before joining SECO (May 2025), he worked several years in wealth management at UBS and began his career as a strategy consultant at The Boston Consulting Group with assignments in Zurich and Mumbai. His appointment is based on expertise in complex project management, sound knowledge of Swiss economic and social policy, and demonstrated leadership experience.
Key Points
- Jérôme Cosandey becomes Deputy Director of SECO on May 1, 2026
- He retains the leadership of the Labour Directorate and sits on the management committee
- His profile combines technical training, economic history and 13 years of social policy research
Critical Questions
Evidence: What measurable successes has Cosandey achieved in his previous SECO role (since May 2025) to justify the promotion?
Conflicts of Interest: To what extent could his 13 years at Avenir Suisse – an economically liberal think tank – shape his policy advice on the labour market, and are there transparency guidelines for such transitions?
Causality: Will the dual role (Labour Director + Deputy Director) lead to coordination advantages or resource conflicts, and what alternatives were considered?
Feasibility: How will SECO's operational management be ensured during prolonged absences of the Director, if Cosandey serves as Deputy?
Qualification: What specific experience does Cosandey bring in the areas of foreign trade, SME policy or industrial promotion – classic SECO core tasks?
Sources
Primary Source: Federal Council – Press Release: Jérôme Cosandey Appointed Deputy Director of SECO – https://www.news.admin.ch/de/newnsb/oqSosfdkRXouE6FRrHPRi
Verification Status: ✓ 22.04.2026
This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial Responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-Check: 22.04.2026