Rodolphe Hottinger
Encyclopedia
Rodolphe Hottinger is a Swiss banker, who represents a financial dynasty stretching back to seven generations. His ancestor, Jean-Conrad Hottinguer, created the Bank Rougemont, Hottinguer & Cie. in 1786. In doing so, he added a 'u' to the family name, to preserve the Germanic pronunciation,, see also House of Hottinguer.
After 20 years as CEO of the Hottinger Group, Rodolphe Hottinger is CEO of La Compagnie Financière Rodolphe Hottinger and is in the process of founding his own licensed operation. He is also a Board Member of AXA Winterthur
and Petrolin SA.
in 1956 to Henri Hottinger and Josyane Van Laere. He is the eldest of two children, and the head of the seventh generation. He attended high school at the Collège Bernard Palissy in the 17th arrondissement in Paris, and went on to obtain a university degree at the Académie de Commerce International. After his studies, Rodolphe Hottinger held several trainee and assistant positions at various well-known banking establishments in Paris, London, New York, Hong Kong and Singapore, namely Coutts & Co., Brown Brothers Harriman, Baring Brothers, Kidder Peabody, and Chemical Bank.
In 1981, Rodolphe Hottinger left Paris for New York to secure and expand the family’s financial operations. In doing so, he re-established the Hottinger name in the United States, a presence which dated back to the first half of the 19th century. At that time, Jean-Conrad and Jean-Henri Hottinguer forged an alliance with Heinrich Escher
, and created the first Hottinger branch in the United States. Heinrich Escher later returned to Switzerland
where his son, Alfred Escher
, founded the Zurich Polytechnic school
, and was also one of the co-founders of the Schweizerische Kreditanstalt, later named Credit Suisse
.
, which deals in equity and equity-linked securities of Swiss companies. That same year, he was named Managing Partner at Hottinger & Cie. in Zurich, a position he would hold for the next twenty-three years. Other positions held during this period include President of the management board of Emba NV, (listed on Euronext
until 2007), from 1990 to 2009, and President and CEO of the Swiss Helvetia Fund (listed on the NYSE ) from 1997 to 2009. He rang the closing bell of the New York Stock Exchange on October 3, 2007.
After 30 years with the Hottinger Group and 20 years as its CEO, Rodolphe Hottinger now manages La Compagnie Financière Rodolphe Hottinger at quai du Seujet no. 10 in Geneva. In 2010 he decided to create his own operation to address the specific challenges that financial institutions now face in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis.
, as Chairman of the EC Banking Federation
, at the inaugural meeting of Bankers' Day in Munich on 14 November 1963.
After 20 years as CEO of the Hottinger Group, Rodolphe Hottinger is CEO of La Compagnie Financière Rodolphe Hottinger and is in the process of founding his own licensed operation. He is also a Board Member of AXA Winterthur
AXA
AXA S.A. is a French global insurance group headquartered in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. AXA is a conglomerate of independently run businesses, operated according to the laws and regulations of many different countries. The AXA group of companies engage in life, health and other forms of...
and Petrolin SA.
Early life and education
Rodolphe Hottinger was born in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1956 to Henri Hottinger and Josyane Van Laere. He is the eldest of two children, and the head of the seventh generation. He attended high school at the Collège Bernard Palissy in the 17th arrondissement in Paris, and went on to obtain a university degree at the Académie de Commerce International. After his studies, Rodolphe Hottinger held several trainee and assistant positions at various well-known banking establishments in Paris, London, New York, Hong Kong and Singapore, namely Coutts & Co., Brown Brothers Harriman, Baring Brothers, Kidder Peabody, and Chemical Bank.
In 1981, Rodolphe Hottinger left Paris for New York to secure and expand the family’s financial operations. In doing so, he re-established the Hottinger name in the United States, a presence which dated back to the first half of the 19th century. At that time, Jean-Conrad and Jean-Henri Hottinguer forged an alliance with Heinrich Escher
Heinrich Escher
Heinrich Escher was the mayor of Zürich at the turn of the 18th Century. He is credited with introducing chocolate to Switzerland after learning about it in Brussels....
, and created the first Hottinger branch in the United States. Heinrich Escher later returned to Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
where his son, Alfred Escher
Alfred Escher
Alfred Escher was a Swiss politician and railway entrepreneur. A member of the Swiss National Council from 1848 to his death 1882, he presided over the council three times ....
, founded the Zurich Polytechnic school
ETH Zurich
The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich or ETH Zürich is an engineering, science, technology, mathematics and management university in the City of Zurich, Switzerland....
, and was also one of the co-founders of the Schweizerische Kreditanstalt, later named Credit Suisse
Credit Suisse
The Credit Suisse Group AG is a Swiss multinational financial services company headquartered in Zurich, with more than 250 branches in Switzerland and operations in more than 50 countries.-History:...
.
Career
In 1982, Rodolphe Hottinger created the brokerage firm Hottinger Bros. in New York, a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers. In 1987, he was instrumental for the creation of the Swiss Helvetia Fund, the first Swiss close-end investment firm listed on the New York Stock ExchangeNew York Stock Exchange
The New York Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located at 11 Wall Street in Lower Manhattan, New York City, USA. It is by far the world's largest stock exchange by market capitalization of its listed companies at 13.39 trillion as of Dec 2010...
, which deals in equity and equity-linked securities of Swiss companies. That same year, he was named Managing Partner at Hottinger & Cie. in Zurich, a position he would hold for the next twenty-three years. Other positions held during this period include President of the management board of Emba NV, (listed on Euronext
Euronext
Euronext N.V. is a pan-European stock exchange based in Amsterdam and with subsidiaries in Belgium, France, Netherlands, Portugal and the United Kingdom. In addition to equities and derivatives markets, the Euronext group provides clearing and information services...
until 2007), from 1990 to 2009, and President and CEO of the Swiss Helvetia Fund (listed on the NYSE ) from 1997 to 2009. He rang the closing bell of the New York Stock Exchange on October 3, 2007.
After 30 years with the Hottinger Group and 20 years as its CEO, Rodolphe Hottinger now manages La Compagnie Financière Rodolphe Hottinger at quai du Seujet no. 10 in Geneva. In 2010 he decided to create his own operation to address the specific challenges that financial institutions now face in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis.
Philosophy
Rodolphe Hottinger remains inspired by a speech given by his grandfather, Baron Rodolphe Hottinguer (1902-1985)Baron Rodolphe Hottinguer (1902-1985)
Rodolphe Hottinguer was the fifth baron Hottinguer.-Early life and education:Born on October 16, 1902, he was the elder son of Baron Henri Hottinguer and Marian Munroe. He earned a Diploma from École supérieure des sciences économiques et commerciales in Paris, then entered the Artillery School...
, as Chairman of the EC Banking Federation
European Banking Federation
The European Banking Federation is an organization of the European banking sector, representing interest of over 5000 European banks in 31 countries with combined assets of over 30,000 billion Euro and around 2.4 million employees...
, at the inaugural meeting of Bankers' Day in Munich on 14 November 1963.
The example of the past should allow for the pursuit of this ancestral occupation of banking. To qualify it, to define it, to anticipate what it might become: therein lies the secret of its future. In the conduct of its forebears and the example they set, our banking family will receive the encouragement to persevere, the intelligence to change and adapt, the character to overcome challenges, and the hope to undertake new ventures.
- - Max Gérard, Messieurs Hottinguers et Cie. Banquiers à Paris, Vol. II, p. 783.
Articles on Rodolphe Hottinger
- "Swiss Helvetia Fund on US economy" in www.gotshares.com, 7 January 2009.
- "Une stratégie internationale volontariste" in Banque et Finance, n°93, Sept/Oct 2008.
Sources
- Messieurs Hottinguer Banquiers à Paris by Max Gérard, Vol. I & II, 1968.
- The World of Private Banking (Studies in Banking and Financial History) by Philip Cottrell and Youssef Cassis, with Monika Pohle Fraser and Iain L. Fraser. Ed. Ashgate (ex-Scolar), October 2009. ISBN 1859284329
- "Une stratégie internationale volontariste" by Eric Grant in Banque et Finance no 93, sept/oct 2008.