Chris Muntwyler

Chris Muntwyler, Senior Associate

Former UK and Central Europe Chief Executive for DHL Express, Chris Muntwyler, joined Nyras as Senior Associate in September 2009.

Over a distinguished career in the international civil aviation, tourism, IT and transportation/logistics industries, Chris has gained special recognition for business transformation achievement and the effective management of high-profile corporate mergers. Since June, 2009, he has served as Special Advisor to 3i Group plc and represents the UK-based private equity firm on the Board of Swiss aircraft manufacturer, Pilatus Aircraft Ltd.

He began his career in 1972 with Swissair, as Manager, Cargo Marketing and Sales Promotion for the Middle East and Far East. Chris rose through a series of further commercial management positions in Switzerland and overseas to become Swissair’s General Manager, Marketing & Sales, North America, in 1986.

In 1990, he was recalled to Zurich to spearhead the airline’s corporate re-organisation programme as Executive Project Leader, reporting directly to the Chairman and Chief Executive. Chris was subsequently appointed to the post of General Manager, Pricing and Global Distribution.

He was promoted to Vice-President and Chief Information Officer in 1996; and a year later became Vice-President, Global Distribution, responsible for Revenue Management, Pricing, Aircraft Optimisation and development of the web platform.

In 1999, Chris was recruited as Managing Director for DHL Worldwide Express in Switzerland. After achieving a successful business turnaround, he was appointed Managing Director for DHL in Germany, with responsibility for business transformation in preparation for the merger with Deutsche Post Express.

Chris became Chief Executive of DHL, Central Europe, in 2003, overseeing the merger and integration of DHL Express, Danzas and Deutsche Post as a single corporate entity.

Two years later, he was appointed Chief Executive for the larger DHL Express UK operation, leading a large-scale business turnaround and corporate integration. During Chris’s three-year leadership, DHL Express UK was named ‘Best Express Company’ in two consecutive annual consumer polls. While in the UK, he served on the prestigious Confederation of British Industry (CBI) President’s Committee.

Following his studies in Zurich, Chris went on to undertake various post-graduate studies at West London College; IMD Lausanne; and Harvard, Wharton and Stanford universities in the USA. He speaks English, German, French and Swedish.