PIERRE HAFNER
Law graduate
Nicknamed “Wildcat” in the Cub Scouts. Schools: primary and secondary in Geneva.
Latin Maturité Collège Calvin Geneva – 1963. Universities of Geneva and Lausanne: Degree in Swiss law.
Student at the Théâtre de Carouge-GE 1959-1961 and at the Théâtre National Populaire (Paris)-1964
Military service in the artillery. Batt. Can. Ld. 11/41
Military Medalist sniper with assault rifle (IBT-1963)
In 1980, became an interpreter (rank of sergeant) in the cp. Staff Assist.11, under the General Staff of the
Group of the General Staff.
Auditor in oriental philosophy at the Sorbonne (Paris-1964) under the direction of Professor Wahl.
Sworn in as a lawyer before the Council of State of Geneva in 1972, after having spent several years in the banking field. Trained as a lawyer for a few months. He was offered the opportunity to enter the field of asset management. He decided to leave the legal career to enter the financial career.
More than 35 years of financial experience: banking – asset management – venture capital in Geneva – Lugano – Milan – New York – Chicago
One of the first users of “technical analysis” (charting) in the financial field in Geneva.
Chronicler of the Swiss stock market for the Journal de Genève since 1975, for several years.
Manager at the private bank Darier & Cie 1980-1985
In 1986, decided to become an independent asset manager. Created Private Man. Hafner S.A.
1987-1990 Director of the Cie de Banque et d’Investissements (CBI).
1990-1994 Director of CBI Holding, owner of Union Bancaire Privée.
Founder, co-founder, president of several companies in the following fields: financial, geopolitical analysis, air transport and media (Europlus Comm. Holding Lux. – Rai-America).
Invited to the CSIS (Center for Strategic and International Studies) conferences in 1981 and 1982 in Brussels and Washington. Participant at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos from 1983 to 1994.
Mentioned by Mr. Edgar Morin in his book “Une Année Sisyphe” Ed. du Seuil 1995
Has personally known or met, among others, Juan M. Fangio, the mime Samy Molcho, Werner von Braun, Pope John Paul II, Mikhail Gorbachev, Abbé Pierre, and President Vaclav Havel, to whom he supplied the very first computers for his Czech presidential campaign in 1990.
In 1968, participated in the protest against the invasion of Czechoslovakia in his own way: by phoning the Soviet Mission to the UN every day, every hour (1 month), thus occupying its telephone lines.
Personal support to the Solidarnosc organization of Lech Walesa (Poland) in 1980.
One of the main defenders of the plane trees of the Place du Marché in Carouge-GE in 2000.
In 1985 he participated in a “raid” in the Sahara desert over 4000 km with pilots of the Paris-Dakar.
Practiced aviation and parachuting. On Nov. 12, 1989, landed, with two pilot friends, the first private plane in East Berlin after the fall of the Berlin Wall which began on Nov. 9, 1989.
Made a photographic report of the events in Geneva during the G8 in Evian in 2003.
He is currently preparing a book “Our World Our Hopes” in which his photos of the G8 will symbolize the permanent conflicts of the World with articles-opinions of emblematic people from all over the world to comment the subject. He himself will include in this book his political and economic project based on the two fundamental principles that should guide all the policies of the world in the 21st century: “Dignity and Sharing”.
His sacred principles: Fairness and respect for the given word.
His favorite hero: Robin Hood.
Created the symbol of “Imalpa”, symbol of the fight against injustice, disease and poverty.
Languages: French, English, Italian, German and Swiss-German.
Lover of reading, music, opera, theater, philosophy, travel, gastronomy.
Particularly interested in geopolitics, economy and everything related to communication, as well as all the fields that allow to discover human beings and the Planet! in order to try to understand: “who are we?”… Vast but not vain!
Sports: running, skiing, golf, tennis, badminton, horse riding, swimming.
His father was a lawyer. His maternal grandfather was a miller. His paternal grandfather was a locomotive driver.
Adherent to the saying: “You can only count on yourself”.
