Alexandre Hay
Alexandre Hay | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Bern, Switzerland |
| Died | August 23, 1991 (aged 71) |
| Occupation(s) | Attorney, financial executive |
| Years active | 1942–1989 |
| Known for | President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (1976–1987); Vice President of the Swiss National Bank (1966–1976) |
Alexandre Hay (29 October 1919 – 23 August 1991) was a prominent Swiss attorney and financial executive. He held the position of Vice President on the Board of the Swiss National Bank from 1966 until 1976. Subsequently, he led the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as its President from 1976 through 1987.
Biography
Hay was born in Bern to parents Frédérik and Lydia Hay-Trachsler and spent his formative years in Geneva. He pursued legal studies at the College of Geneva and successfully passed the bar examination in 1944. His early career, between 1942 and 1945, involved practicing law in Geneva.
In 1945, Hay entered the consular service within the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, stationed in Paris. By 1948, he was entrusted with overseeing Swiss economic and financial matters in France, serving as Class II Secretary of Legation. In 1952, he joined the executive team of the European Payments Union, and a year later, took charge of the Zurich branch of the Swiss National Bank. Between 1955 and 1966, Hay held roles as director and assistant director at the Second Bank of Bern before advancing to vice president and general manager on the executive board of the Swiss National Bank from 1966 to 1976.
In his personal life, Hay married Hélène Morin in 1945, with whom he had four children. Following her passing in 1973, he married Verena Vogler in 1980.
ICRC Presidency
Hay became affiliated with the ICRC in 1975 and assumed its presidency on 1 July 1976, following Eric Martin. Initially, he shared leadership briefly with Roger Gallopin before taking sole command.
During his eleven years at the helm, the ICRC experienced significant expansion: its budget increased fivefold from 50 million to 250 million CHF, while the number of staff and delegates tripled amid escalating international conflicts. Major issues addressed under his guidance included managing refugee situations such as Thailand’s displacement of approximately 250,000 Cambodians and confronting extensive breaches of the Geneva Conventions, notably the deployment of chemical weapons during the Iran–Iraq War. Despite Hay’s vocal opposition to these violations, enforcement remained challenging.
Hay emphasized enhancing cooperation between the ICRC and global Red Cross/Red Crescent societies. He was succeeded by Cornelio Sommaruga in 1987 but continued as an ICRC member until 1989.
Awards
- Received honorary doctorates from both the University of St. Gallen and the University of Geneva
- In 1990, honored as an honorary Companion of the Order of Australia for distinguished humanitarian service
Further reading
- Georges-André Chevallaz, Alexandre Hay, Gaston Gaudard: Helvetische Perspektiven: 1291 - 1991. Ed. Libertas, Biel 1989
- Alexandre Hay: Die Tätigkeit der OCDE. Verband Schweizerischer Holding- und Finanzgesellschaften, Zürich 1962
- Caroline Moorehead: Dunant's dream: War, Switzerland and the history of the Red Cross. HarperCollins, London 1998 (Hardcover), 1999 (Paperback)