Comfone - Excellence in Roaming

Markus Sager, Comfone's Chief Executive Officer, graduated in Electrical Engineering prior to completing further postgraduate studies at the Lucerne University of Applied Science in Business Development and Management.

Following his work in Software Development and as Product and Sales Manager at EROWA AG, Markus Sager joined AGIE Sales Ltd. as Marketing & Sales Manager. He then was promoted to Managing Director of Agie Charmilles Sales Ltd, which is part of Georg Fischer Corporation.

In 2009 Markus Sager joined TOGEWAconsult AG, a subsidiary of TOGEWA Holding AG and partner of Comfone AG, as Managing Director for Business Plan Development. He gained in-depth knowledge of the mobile roaming business and all its global services.

In addition to his role as CEO of Comfone, Markus Sager is responsible for all Marketing related aspects of Comfone including development and implementation of all marketing activities.

Matthias Rüfenacht, Chief Operating Officer

Matthias Rüfenacht, Comfone's Chief Operating Officer, graduated in Electrical Engineering and then carried out further postgraduate studies in Software Engineering..

Following work in Development and Systems Engineering at Ascom, he joined Swiss telecom incumbent Telecom PTT, in the field of research and development for computer aided testing. Matthias Rüfenacht then stepped into the world of mobile communication as Head of Rating at Swisscom Mobile where he gained in-depth experience of all aspects of global roaming.

In 2002, he joined Comfone as Head of Operation and Customer Care and later on as Chief Operating Officer for the innovative WeRoam service. In this role he was responsible for the development and operation of an international WLAN Roaming Service for mobile operators and service providers.

In his current role since 2006, Matthias Rüfenacht is responsible for all service related aspects of Comfone including implementation, operation and customer support.

Daniel Heutschi, Chief Financial Officer

Daniel Heutschi, Comfone's Chief Financial Officer, graduated from the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland, with a Masters degree in Economics.

Following his studies he joined UBS AG in the Junior Key People (JKP) trainee programme within the department of Corporate Clients and Mergers & Acquisitions. Later at UBS, as Business Account Manager he took on responsibility for managing the accounts of a number of high profile business customers.

In 2004, Daniel Heutschi joined Comfone as Junior Product Manager. A year later, as Senior Product Manager, he was responsible for the development and growth of Comfone's trendsetting Key2roam service, which currently lays claim to more than 100 mobile operator network members from around the world.

Daniel was appointed CFO at Comfone in August 2011 and in this role is responsible for managing Comfone's internal financial processes and the complete Clearing Services Portfolio.

Hermann Jaun, Chief Technical Officer

Hermann Jaun, Comfone's Chief Technical Officer, graduated in Electrical Engineering and completed further postgraduate studies in Software Engineering. Having begun his career in hardware and software engineering, in 1989 he joined a software engineering firm where he was responsible for project development.

Before moving into the field of mobile communications, Hermann Jaun was responsible for developing a digital audio broadcasting system, which was introduced as an integrated solution to radio stations throughout Europe.

In his previous role at Comfone as Director of IT and Operations, he gained in-depth experience of all aspects of global roaming, from signalling, TAP file transfer and validation, fraud control, billing and management of roaming relations over Comfone's International Roaming Platform.

In his role, Hermann Jaun is responsible for the development of new services, including all infrastructure requirements enabling the operation and development of customer project.

Peter Rippstein, Comfone's Executive Vice President of global Sales, graduated in Commercial Business and furthered his studies in Information Technology.

Peter started his international career as a Computer Systems Analyst & Applications Developer at IATA's headquarters in Geneva. Years later he joined HP's European HQ in Geneva, as Product Manager for computing devices targeted at both consumer and industrial markets across Europe. Following his departure from HP, he worked with various other US technical companies and built-up, managed and expanded their businesses and related structures (including mergers), through evolving roles ranging from Sales & Marketing Management to Director of Product Marketing and Managing Director.

In 1996 he moved into the telecommunications industry and accepted an opportunity to join Swisscom Mobile in Bern as Head of IT/Billing and Customer Support Services. Soon thereafter he assumed and carried out International assignments on an expatriate basis at two Swisscom joint-ventures; as IT Project Director of Mutiara in Malaysia and thereafter as COO of Sterling Cellular in India.

Following his return to Switzerland in 1998 he was nominated for the position of COO at Comfone AG, a young Swisscom-Vodafone joint venture at that time. Since then Comfone has grown significantly and Peter has contributed to the company's success through various important positions, including Senior VP Sales – EMEA, during the years prior to his current position.

Walter Heutschi, Chairman of the Board of Directors

Walter Heutschi is known throughout the telecom industry for promoting GSM technology. He has worked to shape the GSM standard in mobile communications and was a leading advocate of GSM and inter-standard roaming.

With a Master in Electrical Engineering and Business Administration, Walter Heutschi joined PTT, predecessor to Swisscom. In 1992 he was appointed CEO of the Mobile Telecommunications Unit. Under his leadership Swisscom's mobile-subscriber base grew from a handful to 2.5 million.

In 2000, Walter Heutschi, together with three associates, acquired Comfone, a company specialising in roaming services for mobile operators, and founded the holding company, TOGEWA Group. Walter Heutschi and his colleagues launched the innovative WeRoam service in 2001, a service aimed at the rapidly growing technology of Wireless LAN. In the fast-moving telecoms environment it is crucial to be forward-looking and aware of market trends which Walter Heutschi persists in being.

Géraldine Philippe

Géraldine Philippe graduated as an Attorney of Law from the University of Bern. She joined Swisscom in 1995 and was responsible for building up the legal service at Swisscom Mobile, where she was in charge of all legal matters concerning the international mobile telecommunications business. In 1997 she was instrumental in shaping the mobile regulations within the Telecommunications Act of Switzerland.

As a longstanding member in the GSM Association's Legal Group, Géraldine Philippe contributes to discussions on contractual and other legal issues relating to the international GSM standard.

Géraldine Philippe created the legal structure of Comfone and each company of the TOGEWA Group. Today, all legal matters concerning the operation of TOGEWA Group and its companies are her responsibility.

Recognised as a legal specialist in all roaming matters, Géraldine Philippe's expertise is also sought after by international bodies requiring advice, expertise and consulting within the realm of roaming.

Toni Stadelmann

Toni Stadelmann holds a degree in Electrical Engineering. Joining Swisscom in 1975, he deepened his knowledge in the telecom industry as he assumed various executive positions at Swisscom Mobile, including Head of Planning, Chief Technical Officer (CTO), Director of International Business and deputy Director.

An active member in international organisations promoting the standardisation of GSM, Toni Stadelmann played an important role in founding the GSM Association and he was elected to the Executive Committee of the GSMA from 1996 to 2002.

As chairman of the Inter-Standard Roaming Task Force he introduced the controlled opening of the GSM Association to roaming to other mobile standards, which with the formation of the GSM Global Roaming Forum represents an important milestone in the development of worldwide mobile communications.

Toni Stadelmann's vision is to achieve seamless, secure and open roaming between all mobile standards (GSM, 3G, WLAN, WiMax, etc).