Liberty co-founder and long-standing member of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Boards of Trustees has died. Gilbert Weber passed away on Sunday, 28 December 2014, at the age of 73, after a short but serious illness.

Gilbert Weber decisively shaped the Liberty’s development, first as a member of the Board of Directors of the former management company, swissclear ag and, as of 2005, as Chairman of the Boards of Trustees of the Company's two largest foundations.

The Board of Directors, Board of Trustees, Executive Committee and entire staff have been deeply affected by his unexpected death and thank him for his tireless commitment to the Company.

Before joining Liberty, Gilbert Weber worked for the BVG Regulatory Authority of the Canton of Zurich for 20 years. He retired there as its Deputy Director. In 2004, he joined the Board of Directors of swissclear ag and served as its Chairman until end-2012. In September 2005, Gilbert Weber co-founded the Liberty pensions platform which meanwhile serves some 9,000 members with pension assets of CHF 1.25bn. Until his death, Gilbert Weber was Chairman of the Boards of Trustees of Liberty Foundation for Vested Pension Benefits and Liberty Foundation for 3a Retirement Savings; he was also Deputy Chairman of Liberty Flex Invest Foundation.

With his vision, professional expertise, perseverance and integrating nature, Gilbert Weber played an essential part in Liberty's successful development as Switzerland's leading provider of pension benefits solutions and services.

We have lost a great and loyal friend who we will remember with gratitude.

Our sincerest condolences and heartfelt sympathy go to his bereaved family.

Until further notice, the business of Liberty Foundation for Vested Pension Benefits and Liberty Foundation for 3a Retirement Savings will be managed by Deputy Chairman Josef Dittli. The Boards of Trustees will be considering Mr Weber's succession in due course.