André Hoffmann (businessman)
André Hoffmann | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 31, 1958 Basel, Switzerland |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, environmental advocate, philanthropist |
| Years active | 1991–present |
| Known for | Vice-chairman of Roche Holding; environmental philanthropy |
André Hoffmann (born 31 May 1958) is a Swiss billionaire entrepreneur, environmental advocate, and philanthropist.
He is the great-grandson of Fritz Hoffmann-La Roche, who established Roche Holding in 1896, and currently holds the position of vice-chairman at the company. As of November 2020, his net worth was valued at approximately US$5.71 billion.
A dedicated philanthropist, Hoffmann champions environmental sustainability and conservation efforts. Between 2007 and 2017, he acted as International Vice-president of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and has contributed as a board member to Wetlands International, an organization committed to protecting wetland ecosystems.
Early life
Hoffmann was born in Basel, Switzerland, to Daria Hoffmann-Razumovsky and noted conservationist Luc Hoffmann.
He pursued studies in economics at the University of St. Gallen and completed an MBA at INSEAD in 1990.
Career
Hoffmann began his professional journey with Nestlé UK in 1991. In 1994, he founded a family office focused on managing wealth.
In 1996, he joined the board of Roche Holding, the pharmaceutical giant founded by his grandfather and currently the world's second-largest in its sector. He holds a 1.5% ownership stake in Roche and has been serving as vice chairman since 2006. Additionally, Hoffmann is a board member of Genentech, a Roche subsidiary headquartered in San Francisco.
He was an early backer of Inovalon, a healthcare data analytics firm based in Maryland, where he also fulfills the role of non-executive director.
His involvement extends to international economic and environmental forums such as the Club of Rome, serving on the Board of Trustees for the World Economic Forum, participating in the Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in San Francisco, and sitting on the board of SystemIQ, an enterprise dedicated to fostering transformative changes within economic systems.
Nature preservation
As an environmental advocate, Hoffmann actively promotes sustainability and conservation projects. He became involved with the WWF in 1998 and held the vice-presidency from 2007 until 2017.
Since 2010, he has led the MAVA Foundation, a prominent organization dedicated to nature conservation. In 2016, he took on the presidency of Fondation Tour du Valat, a French research center focused on Mediterranean wetland conservation.
His governance roles also include board memberships at Wetlands International, Global Footprint Network, and FIBA.
Education
In August 2018, Hoffmann along with his wife Rosalie pledged €40 million to INSEAD, establishing the Hoffmann Global Institute for Business and Society, where he currently chairs the advisory board. In 2024, they contributed £3.3 million to the University of Exeter to support research and initiatives addressing climate change solutions.
Other board memberships and positions
Additional roles held by Hoffmann include:
- Club of Rome member
- Vice-chairman of the Venture Foundation Board
- Chairman of the Capitals Coalition Board
- Member of The Royal Institute of International Affairs and Senior Adviser at Chatham House
Personal life
Hoffmann is married to Rosalie Coombe-Tennant and manages multiple vineyards dedicated to sustainable practices. In 2017, he purchased Domaine Jayer Gilles located in Burgundy, which he subsequently renamed Hoffmann Jayer. His vineyard portfolio also includes Domaine Pierre Latine in Yvorne, Switzerland, as well as Domain Alpamanta in Argentina.
In 2022, both he and his wife were honored with a joint Honorary Degree in recognition of their significant efforts in advancing conservation research.