Magdalena Martullo-Blocher
Magdalena Martullo | |
|---|---|
| Born | Magdalena Blocher August 13, 1969 Männedorf, Switzerland |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, politician |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Known for | Member of the National Council (Switzerland), majority owner of EMS-Chemie |
Magdalena Martullo (;; née Blocher; born 13 August 1969), commonly known as Magdalena Martullo-Blocher, is a Swiss entrepreneur and politician who has been a member of the National Council (Switzerland) representing the Swiss People's Party since 2015. She joined the party's executive board in 2018.
Hailing from Männedorf on Lake Zurich, she is the eldest daughter among four siblings of billionaire businessman and former Swiss Federal Councillor Christoph Blocher. After completing her studies at the University of St. Gallen, she gained professional experience at Johnson & Johnson and Rivella. Following her father's election to the Federal Council in 2003, she took over operational leadership of Ems-Chemie, where she and her sister Rahel Blocher currently hold controlling stakes.
Early life and education
Magdalena Blocher was born on 13 August 1969 in Männedorf, situated on Lake Zurich, Switzerland. She is the firstborn of four children to parents Christoph Blocher and Silvia Blocher (née Kaiser). Of Swiss and German heritage, she was raised alongside her siblings Markus, Miriam, and Rahel in Feldmeilen, now incorporated into Meilen.
Her father, Christoph Blocher, originating from a clerical family in Baden-Württemberg, acquired control of Ems-Chemie during the 1970s and expanded it into an international industrial group. The family's net worth is estimated between $18 billion and $19.5 billion as of 2024. On her maternal side, her grandparents operated a civil engineering business based in Wald ZH.
Martullo completed her primary education at public schools before obtaining a licentiate degree—equivalent to a master's—in Business Administration from the prestigious University of St. Gallen.
Professional career
Between 1994 and 1996, Martullo-Blocher held the position of Product Manager at Johnson & Johnson. From 1996 until 2000, she worked as Marketing Manager for the Swiss branch of Rivella AG, a company specializing in soft drinks.
She joined the management team of the Ems Group in January 2001 and was appointed to its Board of Directors eight months later. Since August 2002, she has been serving as Vice Chairman. Upon her father's appointment to the Federal Council in 2003, he transferred his shares to his four children. In January 2004, while expecting a child, Martullo-Blocher assumed leadership of the company. She currently holds the majority ownership stake in EMS-Chemie.
According to the latest data from the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, she ranks as the 255th wealthiest individual worldwide, with an estimated net worth of $9.76 billion.
Political career
In the 2015 Swiss federal elections, Martullo-Blocher was elected as a National Council member for Graubünden representing the SVP. She actively participates in the Commission for Economic Affairs and Taxation (WAK) and maintains strong ties with her constituency. Since 2018, she has held the position of Vice-President within the SVP.
Additionally, she is affiliated with the Campaign for an Independent and Neutral Switzerland (AUNS).
Political views
Martullo-Blocher is a firm advocate for maintaining Swiss neutrality and has openly criticized Switzerland’s involvement in EU-imposed sanctions against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. She promotes diplomatic efforts towards peace talks and contends that sanctions primarily harm EU member states rather than Switzerland itself.
Personal life
In 1999, Martullo-Blocher wed Roberto Martullo, who was born in Switzerland to Italian immigrant parents. Their paths crossed while she was working at Rivella, where he had requested a guided visit of the production plant. Together, they have three children: Samira (born 2001), Matteo (born 2003), and Tamara (born 2006).
She resides in Feldmeilen—now incorporated into Meilen—within the home where she grew up.
External links
- Living people
- People from Meilen District
- Swiss People's Party politicians
- 21st-century Swiss women politicians
- Women members of the National Council (Switzerland)
- Members of the National Council (Switzerland) 2019–2023
- Members of the National Council (Switzerland) 2023–2027
- University of St. Gallen alumni
- Campaign for an Independent and Neutral Switzerland
- Swiss billionaires
- 1969 births