Niklaus Blaser

Niklaus Blaser has extensive work experience in various roles and industries. Niklaus is currently the Chief Digital Officer (CDO) at RUAG. Prior to this, they founded and served as the Owner & CEO of niklausblaserinside GmbH, where they provided transformational leadership and consulting services in areas such as digital business transformation, change leadership, and startup coaching. Niklaus was also a Partner at CYLAD Experts, specializing in innovation, change, growth, performance, and digital business transformation. Additionally, they worked as an Interim Manager for GroNova, aim, Top50, Yell, Deloitte, Sunrise, Ruag AG, and Rieter AG. Niklaus'sprevious experience also includes roles as a Partner at SeestattExperts AG, Member of the Supervisory Board at ACC-Solutions Ltd., and Partner at Consulta AG. Niklaus served as a Lieutenant Colonel off-duty in the Schweizer Armee and held leadership positions at Talaris Ltd. and De La Rue International Ltd., leading engineering sites and developing teller automation and cash handling equipment for the international market.

Niklaus Blaser has an extensive education history. Niklaus obtained a BSc. EE (El. Eng FH) degree in Telecommunication from Berner Fachhochschule BFH, Burgdorf Switzerland in 1987. Niklaus further pursued their studies and acquired a BBA degree in General Management from FH Burgdorf, Switzerland in 1991. In 2002, Niklaus completed an MBA in International Management from IMD. Niklaus later received a CAS Certificate of Advanced Studies in Certified Global Negotiator from the University of St.Gallen in 2017. In 2019, they participated in various programs and received a VR-CAS HSG-Certificate in Board Management of Listed Companies from the University of St.Gallen, and a High School Diploma in TransformTECH Program, a joint program of EPFL and IMD Lausanne from EPFL (École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne). Niklaus also completed a Certificate in Artificial Intelligence from MIT Sloan Executive Education in the same year. Furthermore, they hold an IMD Digital Excellence Diploma in Digital Excellence (2016-2020), a CAS (A) degree in Innovation Management from Kalaidos FH, Zurich in 2010, and a Leading Digital Business Transformation degree in Leadership behavior and frameworks for digital transformations from IMD in 2016. Additionally, they acquired various certifications including Digital Strategy, Digital Execution, Digital Analytics from IMD in 2018, and a HERMES 5.1 Zertifikat from ZHAW School of Management and Law in 2022.