41th AGM with Jan Jenisch, CEO and Chairman Amrize, Vice President SJCC

Leadership across cultures: what Japan and the US can learn from each other –  in Switzerland.

The 41st Annual General Meeting of the Swiss-Japanese Chamber of Commerce SJCC took place this week in Zurich. Members of the chamber and guests came together for an evening of exchange on leadership, business and cross-country perspectives.

The evening opened with remarks by Martin Herb, President SJCC, followed by a welcome address from H.E. Toshiro Iijima, Ambassador of Japan to Switzerland and Liechtenstein, who underlined the strong and trusted relationship between Japan and Switzerland.

Jan Jenisch, Chairman and CEO of Amrize and Vice President of SJCC, then shared first-hand leadership insights from his international career. Drawing on his experience leading Amrize across North America, including Canada, he reflected on the differences between leadership in Japan and in the United States.

Amrize is a newly independent, pure-play building solutions company created through a 100% spin-off from Swiss-based Holcim. Listed on the New York Stock Exchange NYSE in June 2025, Amrize is the partner of choice for North America’s professional builders, offering advanced solutions for infrastructure as well as commercial and residential structures.

Jan Jenisch highlighted two distinct leadership strengths: the US ability to move fast, seize the right moment and successfully turn opportunities into growth, and Japan’s broader, carefully aligned decision-making culture, which can lead to resilient and high-quality outcomes.

A particularly memorable moment was the appointment of Eric Zangger, retired from Novartis, as an honorary member of SJCC. Members and guests warmly appreciated this recognition, especially as he is SJCC’s oldest member at the age of 100.  

The evening concluded with a dinner, where members and guests continued the dialogue in a personal setting and deepened ties within the Swiss-Japanese business community.

SJCC extends its sincere thanks to Jan Jenisch for his insightful keynote and to H.E. Toshiro Iijima for his highly appreciated contribution, and to all members and guests who joined this meaningful evening of exchange.