Arosa Bergbahnen: Chairman Of The Board Of Directors Lorenzo Schmid Resigns
Lorenzo Schmid is stepping down after 36 years on the Board of Directors, 33 of which as Chairman. He shaped the company decisively with his great commitment and clear stance. The Board of Directors proposes Urs Marti – a well-connected and proven industry expert – as his successor to the Annual General Meeting.
Arosa Bergbahnen AG announces the planned change in the Board of Directors' Presidency. The Board of Directors of Arosa Bergbahnen AG proposes Urs Marti as the new Chairman to the Annual General Meeting. He will succeed Lorenzo Schmid, who is stepping down after 36 years of leadership on the Board of Directors, including 33 years as Chairman. With Lorenzo Schmid's departure, ABB loses a Chairman who, with his tireless commitment, integrity, and clear stance, significantly shaped the company's successful work and image. Urs Marti, the proposed successor, has an outstanding track record and is extremely well-connected.
Lorenzo Schmid was elected to the Board of Directors in 1989, which he has chaired since 1992. He soon became the public face of Arosa Bergbahnen. With his tireless commitment, integrity, and clear stance, he significantly shaped the image of this long-established mountain railway company. He championed its concerns with passion and expertise, thereby ensuring widespread acceptance among shareholders, employees, the public, and the mountain railway industry.
He paid particular attention to the ski area connection between Arosa and Lenzerheide. On his own initiative, he breathed new life into the idea in the early 1990s. With his consistently constructive and solution-oriented approach, accompanied by a healthy dose of persistence, he succeeded in convincing the numerous stakeholders of the importance of this project of the century. The opening of the largest connected ski area in Graubünden on January 18, 2014, is the outstanding milestone of his work and his personal achievement. During his presidency, he consistently developed the company's internal structures and competencies. Thanks to Lorenzo Schmid's successful work, Arosa Bergbahnen AG is excellently positioned and financially sound to boldly tackle and overcome the challenges of the future.
When Lorenzo Schmid was allowed to take over as Chairman of the Board of Directors, the age limit of 70 was introduced for the Board of Directors. Therefore, in March 2024, Lorenzo Schmid informed the Board of Directors that he would be stepping down after 33 years of service as Chairman. The search committee appointed by the Board of Directors subsequently conducted a multi-stage process of interviewing numerous candidates. As a result, it recommended a shortlist of four candidates to the Board of Directors. At its meeting on April 22, 2025, the Board of Directors resolved to propose Urs Marti for election as Chairman of the Board of Directors to the Annual General Meeting on September 27, 2025.
"With Urs Marti, we have a personality who thoroughly understands the concerns and needs of the mountain railway company. Through his work in numerous companies and institutions, he has in-depth knowledge of corporate management. He also brings extensive political experience and excellent knowledge of dealing with authorities. He has excellent connections in Arosa and beyond, communicates openly, and has the necessary drive to effectively represent the interests of Arosa Bergbahnen AG both internally and externally in the coming years. If elected by the General Assembly, he will assume his new position immediately following the election."
Urs Marti (born 1967) grew up in Chur and ran MATA Treuhand AG as an independent entrepreneur from 1994 to 2012. From 2013 to 2024, he served as mayor of Chur, successfully steering the political fortunes of the Graubünden capital. Due to term limits, he relinquished this position at the end of 2024. Since 2025, he has served as president of the Graubünden Homeowners Association. Urs Marti began his professional career with a commercial apprenticeship and completed his training as a federally certified real estate agent. During his career, he has served as president and board member of various educational institutions, organizations, and non-profit institutions. He has also worked professionally in Arosa. Urs Marti is married, has two children, and lives in Chur.
