Hans J. Baer
Hans Julius Baer | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1927-09-26 Zürich, Switzerland |
| Died | 2011-03-21 Zürich, Switzerland |
| Occupation | Banker |
| Known for | Partner, president of the executive board, and chairman at Julius Baer Group; mediator in restitution of lost Jewish assets under the Volcker Commission |
Hans Julius Baer (26 September 1927 – 21 March 2011) was a prominent Swiss banker who held key roles including partner, president of the executive board, and chairman at Julius Baer Group, the financial institution established by his grandfather, Julius Baer. During the 1990s, he also played a crucial role as a mediator in the restitution of lost Jewish assets under the Volcker Commission.
Early life and education
Born in Zürich, Switzerland, Baer was the son of Richard Baer, a physics professor at ETH Zurich and a limited partner at Julius Baer, and Ellen Baer (née Lohnstein). His father passed away in 1940 before the family could emigrate to the United States as planned.
At 14 years old, Baer relocated with his family to the U.S., primarily settling in Princeton, New Jersey. He completed a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering at Lehigh University in 1947, followed by a Master of Arts in economics from Columbia University in 1950.
Career
Joining Julius Baer Group as a partner in 1960, Baer later served as president of its executive board between 1975 and 1993 before becoming chairman of the board until 1996.
Personal life
Baer was married to Ilse Kaelin (1920–2002), with whom he had two children:
- Monique Baer, an engineer agronomist and philanthropist dedicated to sustainable investment initiatives.
- Raymond Julius Baer (born 1959), who led the board of Julius Baer Group as president from 2003 until 2012 and has held the title of honorary president since then. He was married to Gabriele Baer (née Richner) and is presently partnered with Carolina Müller-Möhl.
After a prolonged illness, Baer passed away on 21 March 2011 in Zürich, Switzerland at the age of 83.
Literature
- The Banking System of Switzerland. Dissertation, New York University, Buchdr. Neumann, 1951 (in German)
- Seid umschlungen, Millionen. Ein Leben zwischen Pearl Harbor und Ground Zero. Orell Füssli, Zürich 2004, (in German)