Graduate in Electrical Engineering, ETH. Formerly: President and Delegate, Ammann Group; 11 years as Member, National Council, for FDP, including Member, Committee for Economic Affairs and Taxation. Since November 2010, Federal Councillor of Switzerland: one of the seven members of Federal Council, Switzerland's cabinet; Head, Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research; with State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), responsibilities include economic policy, labour market and foreign trade; with State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI), responsibilities include education, vocational education and training, research, technology and innovation; other responsibilities include agriculture, consumer affairs and others.