Peter Spuhler
Peter Spuhler | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 9, 1959 Seville, Spain |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, industrial leader, politician |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Known for | CEO and owner of Stadler Rail; member of the Swiss National Council (1999–2012) |
Peter Christoph Spuhler (; born 9 January 1959) is a prominent Swiss entrepreneur, industrial leader, and politician who held a seat in the National Council (Switzerland) from 1999 until 2012 as a member of the Swiss People's Party.
In 1989, Spuhler took ownership of Stadler Rail, a company originally established by his first wife’s grandfather, Ernst Stadler. He served as the firm's chief executive officer from 1989 through 2017 and then again temporarily between 2020 and 2023. Under his guidance, Stadler Rail expanded into an international industrial enterprise, undertaking significant projects such as California's Caltrain. Forbes magazine estimates his personal wealth at approximately $3.9 billion.
Early life
Born on 9 January 1959 in Seville, Spain, Spuhler is the eldest child of Paul Spuhler (1920–2014), a professional chef, and Margrit Spuhler (née Bossard; 1920–2017). His father was the head chef at Zurich’s prestigious Dolder Grand hotel from 1960 until 1987. Peter has one younger sister named Maya Spuhler.
After completing his Matura in Zurich and fulfilling mandatory military duties, he pursued studies in business administration at the University of St. Gallen from 1980 to 1986. During his youth, he also played ice hockey with Grasshopper Club Zürich.
Stadler Rail
Following his marriage into the Stadler family, Spuhler joined Stadler Fahrzeuge AG in 1987, which at that time was led by Irma Stadler, widow of founder Ernst Stadler. Two years later, he purchased the company—then employing 18 people with an annual turnover near 4.5 million Swiss francs—financed by a bank loan of approximately 5 million Swiss francs. He restructured operations and introduced the Stadler GTW, a rail vehicle designed specifically for contemporary regional transit needs.
To facilitate further growth in rail manufacturing, Spuhler acquired the Werk Altenrhein facility from Schindler Waggon AG in 1997. The establishment of a new holding company enabled expansion into markets in Germany and Eastern Europe. On 1 April 2018, he passed on executive management of Stadler Rail Group to Thomas Ahlburg while concentrating on his role as chairman of the board. However, due to strategic disagreements, Spuhler resumed the position of Group CEO on an interim basis in May 2020 until Markus Bernsteiner took over in 2023.
Other roles
Spuhler holds board memberships at Aebi-Schmidt Group, Gleisag (Rorschach), and Walo Bertschinger AG (Zurich). Since April 2019, he has been part of Robert Bosch Industrietreuhand KG and serves on the supervisory board of Robert Bosch GmbH. His involvement extends to organizations such as the Mittelthurgau Employers' Association, IG Freiheit, Thurgau Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Information Service for Public Transport, Tele D Foundation, and he acts as vice president of Betriebs AG for the ZSC Lions.
Political career
Representing Thurgau for the Swiss People's Party (SVP/UDC), Spuhler served in the Swiss National Council from 1999 to 2012 and participated on the parliamentary committee focused on economic affairs and taxation. Distinctively within his party, he advocated for maintaining freedom of movement between Switzerland and the European Union. In November 2020, he declined an invitation to serve as Switzerland’s honorary consul to Russia.
Personal life
In 1986, Spuhler wed Andrea Schaffner, the granddaughter of Ernst Stadler, the founder of Stadler Rail. They became parents to two children: Lucas, born in 1991, and Laura, born in 1994, who later married Rolf Hächler. The marriage ended in divorce during the 2000s. Subsequently, in 2008, Spuhler married Daniela Hoffmann (born 1977), who owns two Zurich-based construction companies, Esslinger Ltd. and Barizzi Ltd., which she inherited from her family. Together, they had two children: Ladina (born 2009) and Laurin Urs (2015–2015).
Spuhler's residence is located in Warth-Weiningen. Reports from the Tages Anzeiger indicate that he registers his personal and family income and assets in the Canton of Schwyz, a region recognized for its advantageous tax policies for affluent individuals.
External links
- Official website
- Parliament.ch profile