Find the perfect Chief Executive Officers in Zurich in minutes from over 15,000 CVs with the power of AI
Bring in experienced CEOs for turnarounds, growth plans, investor reporting, board alignment, and international expansion. Get fast, precise matching with vetted, available freelancers.
About the role
What they lead
A freelance Chief Executive Officer gives a company clear direction when the leadership seat needs immediate strength. They set priorities, manage the executive team, align the board, and keep the business focused on results. In Zurich, that often means working with international companies, scale-ups, family businesses, and investor-backed firms that need sharp leadership without a long hiring process.
Typical work
- Define strategy and translate it into execution
- Lead leadership teams and clarify decision making
- Prepare board updates, investor communication, and executive reviews
- Support restructurings, growth plans, or market entry
- Act as interim CEO during a transition or vacancy
- Represent the company with key clients, partners, and stakeholders
Skills that matter
Strong Chief Executive Officers combine commercial judgment with calm leadership. They understand P&L responsibility, organizational design, governance, and change management. They also know how to read a market, ask the right questions, and make decisions when the facts are incomplete. For many assignments, fluency in English is essential, and in Zurich German can be important for local teams and stakeholders.
When companies hire one
Companies bring in a CEO on a freelance basis when speed and clarity matter. Common cases include a leadership gap, rapid growth, a merger, investor pressure, or a need to reset execution. A freelance CEO is also useful when a business wants senior leadership for a specific phase, not a permanent change. That fits especially well for founder-led companies, private equity situations, and international firms with a Zurich base.
What good looks like
A strong Chief Executive Officer does more than keep the seat warm. They communicate a clear plan, build trust fast, and create structure without slowing the company down. They are comfortable with ambiguity, but they do not stay vague. Look for someone who can balance people, numbers, and priorities, and who has led real decisions through to delivery.
Delivery and scope
The best freelancers work across strategy, execution, and stakeholder management. They may step in as interim CEO, acting CEO, or executive advisor depending on the mandate. In Zurich, that can include on-site leadership with regular board meetings, while parts of the work are handled remotely. The right profile is the one that can lead the company through the exact phase it is in, then hand over cleanly when the job is done.
Meet FRATCH Chief Executive Officers
Christoph Pardon
ICT DevSecOps Engineer & Security Coordinator
Last position:
ICT DevSecOps Engineer & Security Coordinator at Abraxas Informatik AG
- Interface role with the SOC team; improved incident response time by 45% through structured escalation processes and proactive security monitoring.
- Defined technical standards for a multi-tenant enterprise platform (10+ services), resulting in 30% shorter onboarding time for new clients in the public sector.
- Active knowledge sharing and mentoring of a 6-person team; increased team autonomy and built a sustainable engineering culture.
- Reduced time-to-market by 50% through optimizing CI/CD pipelines and introducing self-service deployments.
- Stack: GitLab CI/CD, Kubernetes, Nexus, Harbor, ArgoCD, HashiCorp Vault, Grafana, Python, PostgreSQL, Java, Spring Boot, Flyway, Quarkus, JBoss, Loki
Valérie Henzen
Consultant | Strategist | Experienced CMO
Last position:
Lecturer in Future Foresight at Hochschule für Wirtschaft
Valérie Henzen
Consultant | Strategist | Experienced CMO
Last position:
Lecturer in Future Foresight at Hochschule für Wirtschaft
Tobias Künkler
Chief Data & Transformation Officer
Last position:
CEO, Interim Manager for Chief Data Officer & Chief Transformation Officer roles at Hyght
- Lead interim roles as Chief Data Officer and Chief Transformation Officer, orchestrating the design and execution of digital, data, and AI transformations within private equity and enterprise organizations
- Design and implement data and digital strategies that align with organizational goals, enhance operational efficiency, and drive innovation across business units
- Develop and implement target operating models (TOMs) to establish and restructure data, AI, and IT organizations, enhancing their alignment with business objectives
- Define and operationalize enterprise data and AI governance frameworks that ensure compliance, mitigate risks, and promote best practices across the organization
- Spearhead transformations for private equity–backed companies, ensuring operational practices align with strategic objectives to foster sustainable growth and deliver value creation
- Formulate and execute comprehensive Value Creation Plans (VCPs) that identify growth opportunities, enhance operational efficiencies, and develop revenue enhancement strategies
Tobias Künkler
Chief Data & Transformation Officer
Last position:
CEO, Interim Manager for Chief Data Officer & Chief Transformation Officer roles at Hyght
- Lead interim roles as Chief Data Officer and Chief Transformation Officer, orchestrating the design and execution of digital, data, and AI transformations within private equity and enterprise organizations
- Lead interim roles as Chief Data Officer and Chief Transformation Officer, orchestrating the design and execution of digital, data, and AI transformations within private equity and enterprise organizations
- Design and implement data and digital strategies that align with organizational goals, enhance operational efficiency, and drive innovation across business units
- Develop and implement target operating models (TOMs) to establish and restructure data, AI, and IT organizations, enhancing their alignment with business objectives
- Define and operationalize enterprise data and AI governance frameworks that ensure compliance, mitigate risks, and promote best practices across the organization
- Spearhead transformations for private equity–backed companies, ensuring operational practices align with strategic objectives to foster sustainable growth and deliver value creation
- Formulate and execute comprehensive Value Creation Plans (VCPs) that identify growth opportunities, enhance operational efficiencies, and develop revenue enhancement strategies
- Design and implement data and digital strategies that align with organizational goals, enhance operational efficiency, and drive innovation across business units
- Develop and implement target operating models (TOMs) to establish and restructure data, AI, and IT organizations, enhancing their alignment with business objectives
- Define and operationalize enterprise data and AI governance frameworks that ensure compliance, mitigate risks, and promote best practices across the organization
- Spearhead transformations for private equity–backed companies, ensuring operational practices align with strategic objectives to foster sustainable growth and deliver value creation
- Formulate and execute comprehensive Value Creation Plans (VCPs) that identify growth opportunities, enhance operational efficiencies, and develop revenue enhancement strategies
Benedict Von Hoffmann
Co-Founder & CEO
Last position:
Co-Founder & CEO at Clanq AG
- I ideated, built, launched, and grew Clanq - a fully regulated financial app that's been a game-changer for families in Germany, enabling them to save a whopping 30% more for their little ones.
- At Clanq, we achieved a remarkable 40% growth MoM during my tenure.
- Internally, I fostered a culture of continuous improvement, agility, and drive that propelled the company forward.
- We achieved new feature releases bi-weekly, keeping users engaged and excited about our product.
- Led an international team of 15 employees (Brazil, Berlin, Belgrade, Kyiv).
- Successfully raised the company's valuation to 5 million.
- Launched the product within 8 months, outperforming all the deadlines and ensuring a successful market entry.
- Recognized as one of the top CEOs in the industry, earning a place on the prestigious Forbes 30u30 list for my outstanding leadership and achievements.
- Developed a one-of-a-kind digital life insurance model, setting a new standard in the industry and attracting a large customer base.
Benedict Von Hoffmann
Co-Founder & CEO
Last position:
Co-Founder & CEO at Clanq AG
- I ideated, built, launched, and grew Clanq - a fully regulated financial app that's been a game-changer for families in Germany, enabling them to save a whopping 30% more for their little ones.
- At Clanq, we achieved a remarkable 40% growth MoM during my tenure.
- I ideated, built, launched, and grew Clanq - a fully regulated financial app that's been a game-changer for families in Germany, enabling them to save a whopping 30% more for their little ones.
- At Clanq, we achieved a remarkable 40% growth MoM during my tenure.
- Internally, I fostered a culture of continuous improvement, agility, and drive that propelled the company forward.
- We achieved new feature releases bi-weekly, keeping users engaged and excited about our product.
- Led an international team of 15 employees (Brazil, Berlin, Belgrade, Kyiv).
- Successfully raised the company's valuation to 5 million.
- Launched the product within 8 months, outperforming all the deadlines and ensuring a successful market entry.
- Recognized as one of the top CEOs in the industry, earning a place on the prestigious Forbes 30u30 list for my outstanding leadership and achievements.
- Developed a one-of-a-kind digital life insurance model, setting a new standard in the industry and attracting a large customer base.
- Internally, I fostered a culture of continuous improvement, agility, and drive that propelled the company forward.
- We achieved new feature releases bi-weekly, keeping users engaged and excited about our product.
- Led an international team of 15 employees (Brazil, Berlin, Belgrade, Kyiv).
- Successfully raised the company's valuation to 5 million.
- Launched the product within 8 months, outperforming all the deadlines and ensuring a successful market entry.
- Recognized as one of the top CEOs in the industry, earning a place on the prestigious Forbes 30u30 list for my outstanding leadership and achievements.
- Developed a one-of-a-kind digital life insurance model, setting a new standard in the industry and attracting a large customer base.
Benjamin Talin
Board Member
Last position:
Board Member at University of Digital Science (UDS Berlin)
- Advisor on topics of economic development, SME, digitization, technology and education in Europe incl. EU Commission, Middle East, Asia and North-Africa.
Benjamin Talin
Board Member
Last position:
Board Member at University of Digital Science (UDS Berlin)
- Advisor on topics of economic development, SME, digitization, technology and education in Europe incl. EU Commission, Middle East, Asia and North-Africa.
- Advisor on topics of economic development, SME, digitization, technology and education in Europe incl. EU Commission, Middle East, Asia and North-Africa.
Robin Seidelmann
Senior ERP Project Manager
Last position:
Board Member at 2BCS AG at 2BCS AG digitalization experts
Discover over 15,000 top freelancers
Chief Executive Officers statistics
Aggregated from the professional profiles of matched freelancers.
Experience
18 years
Position duration
3.5 years
Positions per freelancer
13
Top business areas
Strategy, Information Technology, Operations
Top industries
Professional Services, Information Technology, Education
Certification focus areas
Information Technology, Strategy, Human Resources
Bachelor's degree or higher
100%
Master's degree or higher
33%
Certifications per freelancer
1
Most common languages
German, English, Italian
Speak two or more languages
100%
Daily Rate Distribution
The chart shows how the daily rates of freelancers in this role are distributed, based on recent contracts on our platform. Each bar covers a rate range — its height shows how many freelancers charge within that range. Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
Average rates for Chief Executive Officers & Seniority distribution
Rates are based on recent contracts and do not include FRATCH margin.
The average daily rate is the mean of all daily rates from recent contracts of comparable freelancers on our platform.
The median daily rate is the middle value of all daily rates — half of comparable freelancers charge less, half charge more. Unlike the average, it is barely affected by outliers.
Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions in mind? Get key insights about FRATCH
A Chief Executive Officer sets direction, drives execution, and keeps the leadership team aligned. In a freelance setup, that often includes interim leadership, board communication, investor updates, and support during change or growth. The exact scope should be tied to the business phase, not to a generic CEO job profile.
An interim CEO is often the better choice when the company needs fast stability, not a long recruitment process. This is common during a vacancy, a transformation, a merger, or a turnaround. It also helps when the board wants senior leadership for a defined period before deciding on the long-term structure.
Look for commercial judgment, clear communication, and real experience leading teams through change. A strong Chief Executive Officer also understands governance, financial performance, and how to work with the board and investors. The best profiles can make decisions, explain them well, and keep people moving in the same direction.
A Chief Executive Officer carries full leadership responsibility for the company or business unit. An executive advisor supports from the side, while a managing director may focus more on operations depending on the company structure. Titles vary by country and company, so the real question is who owns strategy, execution, and final decisions.
Both models work, but the right setup depends on the mandate. A Chief Executive Officer usually needs regular on-site presence for team alignment, board work, and sensitive decisions, especially in a Zurich-based company. Remote collaboration can cover preparation, analysis, and reporting, but leadership moments often benefit from being in the room.
Ask what outcome the person will own, how they make decisions, and how they handle board and team communication. For a CEO, it also helps to clarify whether the role is interim leadership, turnaround support, or growth execution. That makes the scope practical and avoids confusion later.
Check for relevant leadership results in situations similar to yours. A strong Chief Executive Officer can explain what changed under their leadership, how they handled conflict, and what they delivered with limited time. Good references, a clear operating style, and a direct way of thinking matter more than polished general statements.
In Zurich, companies often bring in a Chief Executive Officer for international growth, restructuring, investor-led change, or a leadership gap. That includes scale-ups, family-owned firms, and subsidiaries that need local leadership with global coordination. Language and stakeholder fit matter, especially when the role touches the board, employees, and external partners.
The average hourly rate for Chief Executive Officers in Zurich is 167 €, which corresponds to a daily rate of about 1,338 € based on an 8-hour working day.
Of the freelancers working as Chief Executive Officers in Zurich, 100% hold at least a Bachelor's degree and 33% hold at least a Master's degree.
On average, freelancers working as Chief Executive Officers in Zurich have 18 years of professional experience, with a single engagement typically lasting around 3.5 years.
The most common languages among freelancers working as Chief Executive Officers in Zurich are German (100%), English (100%), and Italian (50%).
The most common industries among freelancers working as Chief Executive Officers in Zurich are Professional Services (100%), Information Technology (83%), and Education (50%).
The most common business areas among freelancers working as Chief Executive Officers in Zurich are Strategy (100%), Information Technology (83%), and Operations (83%).
FRATCH Chief Executive Officers main locations
Our freelancers and interim experts are at home across the DACH region — available on-site in the major business hubs or fully remote. Choose a location to discover matched specialists, local market insights and up-to-date availability.
Countries:
Zurich 
Geneva Basel Bern Request a Free Demo
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Philipp Thomaschewski
FRATCH CEO
