Summary
The Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (UVEK) has appointed Ulrich Seewer as Deputy Director of the Federal Office for Spatial Development (ARE) effective May 1, 2026. The 61-year-old Seewer has been Vice Director of the ARE for ten years and heads the Directorate Division for Mobility, Space and Infrastructure. He succeeds Stephan Scheidegger, who will retire at the same time. The Federal Council was informed of the appointment on April 1, 2026.
People
- Ulrich Seewer (Vice Director ARE, new Deputy Director)
- Stephan Scheidegger (former Deputy Director, retirement)
Topics
- Swiss Federal Administration
- Spatial Development and Mobility
- Personnel Changes in Federal Offices
Clarus Lead
Seewer's promotion signals continuity in the leadership of the ARE during a transition process. With Scheidegger's retirement and the advancement of a long-standing internal expert, the UVEK is relying on proven technical expertise in sustainable transport policy and spatial planning – central topics in Swiss infrastructure development.
Detailed Summary
Ulrich Seewer brings extensive experience in transport and spatial planning. The trained geographer and historian (University of Bern) was previously head of the Office for Public Transport and Transport Coordination of the Canton of Bern (AÖV), where he led agglomeration programs and was responsible for large-scale transport projects such as the expansion of Bern Railway Station. In the federal administration, he has led research and implementation projects on sustainable transport policy and spatial planning at various levels.
His ten-year tenure as Vice Director of the ARE with responsibility for the Directorate Division for Mobility, Space and Infrastructure positions him as an established executive in the federal office. His appointment as Deputy Director effective May 1, 2026 represents an organizational upgrade and ensures continuity in the implementation of ongoing spatial development projects.
Key Points
- Ulrich Seewer will become Deputy Director of the Federal Office for Spatial Development on May 1, 2026
- He succeeds Stephan Scheidegger, who is retiring
- Seewer has 10 years of experience as Vice Director of the ARE and long-standing expertise in transport and spatial planning
Critical Questions
Evidence/Data Quality: What specific success metrics or project completions under Seewer's leadership at the ARE are used as the basis for his promotion?
Conflicts of Interest: To what extent is Seewer's internal promotion shaped by established networks within the ARE, and was there an open selection process?
Causality/Alternatives: Why was the succession not supplemented by external candidates with potentially innovative approaches, and what strategic reasons support a purely internal solution?
Feasibility/Risks: How is the transition from the current Vice Director to the Deputy Director position organized, and what gaps will emerge in the leadership of the Directorate Division for Mobility, Space and Infrastructure?
Source Directory
Primary Source: UVEK Press Release – Ulrich Seewer Becomes Deputy Director of the Federal Office for Spatial Development – https://www.news.admin.ch/de/newnsb/CxhuExYBDCSB9P1F6sUul
Verification Status: ✓ April 1, 2026
This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial Responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-Checking: April 1, 2026