André Hoffmann

WHT Chairman André Hoffmann was born in Switzerland and grew up in France. Mr Hoffmann's commitment to the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust, over many years, demonstrates his investment in the next generation of young people. Mr Hoffmann recognises the global challenges of today's complex world and supports young people to become knowledgeable and skilled leaders equipped to shape more equitable and sustainable societies.

André Hoffmann is the Vice Chairman of Roche Holdings, Switzerland, a highly innovative pharmaceutical company established by his great grandfather in 1896. He also serves on the board of the fully owned subsidiary Genentech Inc. in California (USA). Mr. Hoffmann has contributed to the development and success of a data driven, cloud based, analytics company providing meaningful insights into the US health system: Inovalon Inc., based in Maryland (USA).

Alongside his non-executive roles in the family business, Mr. Hoffmann has a distinguished background in nature conservation and sustainability. He served on the board of WWF International for 18 years (the last 7 years as Vice-President), Wetlands International, Global Footprint Network (where he remains honorary chairman) and FIBA a Mauritanian NGO which has now been merged with Fondation MAVA.

Mr Hoffmann is the President of Fondation MAVA, a leading European conservation foundation committed to conserve biodiversity and President of Fondation Tour du Valat in the Camargue, France, a world-renowned research institute primarily active in the conservation of Mediterranean wetlands.

Mr Hoffmann firmly believes in business as a force for good and has joined the board of SystemIQ in order to help positively disrupt critical economic systems. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the World Economic Forum, as well as of the Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in San Francisco.

Mr Hoffmann has been instrumental in establishing the Hoffmann Global Institute in Business and Society at INSEAD, in Fontainebleau, France, his Alma mater.

Through his multiple initiatives Mr. Hoffmann is attempting to influence business thinking towards the long term by pushing companies to not only report on financial guidelines but also on their real contribution to society in environmental and social terms.

His philanthropic activity focuses on sustainable impact in many other organisations, mostly in the field of education.

Mr. Hoffmann studied economics at St. Gallen University and holds an MBA from INSEAD.