Aviation Biju John | June 26, 2026

Dieter Vranckx assumes Chairmanship of the SWISS Board of Directors – Ashwin Bhat returns to the Board

Dieter Vranckx has assumed the Chairmanship of the Board of Directors of SWISS. Ashwin Bhat, CEO of Lufthansa Cargo and a former member of the SWISS Board of Directors, has been newly elected to the Board. Both bring many years of leadership experience and know SWISS extremely well through their own previous roles within the company.

Dieter Vranckx
- Assumes role as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS).
- Previously served as CEO of SWISS (2021–2024).
- Has been a Board member since 2024.
- Currently Chief Commercial Officer of the Lufthansa Group, overseeing commercial activities across the group.

Ashwin Bhat
- Newly elected to the SWISS Board of Directors.
- CEO of Lufthansa Cargo since April 2023 (previously Chief Commercial Officer).
- Led SWISS WorldCargo (2015–2021).
- Began career at Swisscargo AG in 1999.
- Served on the SWISS Board previously (2023–2024).

Strategic Impact
Both leaders bring:
- Extensive international aviation experience.
- Deep familiarity with SWISS operations through years of service.
- Strong ties to the Lufthansa Group, reinforcing SWISS’s position within the broader network.

This transition follows Reto Francioni’s decision not to stand for re-election as Chairman.