Matthias Braun to be Nagra’s new CEO


Nagra’s Board of Directors has appointed Matthias Braun as its new CEO. Braun has a doctorate in geology and will succeed Thomas Ernst, who will retire after 14 years as CEO.

Matthias Braun will be Nagra’s new CEO. The 52-year-old Swiss citizen will join Nagra on 1st March 2021 and assume operational responsibility on 1st May 2021. “Throughout his career, Matthias Braun has impressively demonstrated his geological expertise and leadership skills. I am convinced that he is the right candidate to guide Nagra through the final stage of the site selection process and succeed in obtaining the general licence for a deep geological repository”, says Nagra’s President of the Board of Directors, Corina Eichenberger.

Braun studied geology at the University of Basel and also obtained his doctorate there. From 2009 to 2020, he worked for Shell International in London where he most recently held the title of “General Manager Specialist Geoscience & Global Discipline Head Specialist Geoscience”. He was responsible for the geoscientific aspects related to the search for raw materials deposits as well as to development, production and new energy resources (geothermal, CO2 capture and storage, and energy storage). He coordinated seven expert groups in different countries and led 80 highly-qualified staff members worldwide. Earlier in his career, he worked for NAM, Agip, Shell Italy and the Al Furat Petroleum Company, and he has lived in the Netherlands, Italy, the United Kingdom, Syria, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

“Nagra is substantially involved in moving forward with Switzerland’s fascinating project of the century. I am honoured to be able to contribute to this and share my experience with Nagra. I am looking forward to this exceptional challenge”, says Matthias Braun.

After handing over responsibility to his successor, Thomas Ernst, who has led Nagra as CEO since 2007, will remain available to Matthias Braun in an advisory capacity from May to September 2021.

Contact: Patrick Studer, Head Nagra’s Media Office: 076 579 36 50, patrick.studer@nagra.ch

According to Swiss nuclear energy legislation, the producers of radioactive waste are responsible for its safe management and disposal. In 1972, the Federal Government and the nuclear power plant operators set up the National Cooperative for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste (Nagra) to perform this task. Nagra, which has its headquarters in Wettingen (AG), is the national technical competence centre in the field of deep geological disposal of radioactive waste.

Out of a strong sense of responsibility for the long-term protection of man and the environment, 130 employees are involved daily in performing this important work. The high level of competence is secured by targeted research programmes in two Swiss underground rock laboratories and intensive international collaboration.