Our Board

Thomas, founder and president of The Dariu Foundation, is a highly experienced entrepreneur and manager and has been the driving force at Ringier’s, Switzerland’s leading media group, international expansion, where was responsible for New Markets, Asia and Africa. On his early business ventures in Vietnam in 1992, he fell in love with Asia, which eventually led him to launch The Dariu Foundation in 2002.

Daniel Keller is the co-founder of EvalCo Sàrl, a Swiss-based company specializing in development consulting for governments, UN agencies and NGOs in emerging markets. He has completed more than 200 assignments in 55 countries. Prior to founding his own consulting firm in 2001, he served for four years as General Manager and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ringier – Thong Nhat Joint Venture, the first foreign-invested publishing house in Vietnam. After more than 17 years in Vietnam, he now lives in Switzerland with his family. Daniel is fluent in Vietnamese and has served on several boards in Vietnam. As a member of Mekong Capital’s Investment Committee, he has been involved in all major investment and divestment decisions.

Dr. Annabella Bassler has been CFO of Ringier AG since June 2012. She is a member of the Board of Directors of Ticketcorner AG, Grupa Ringier Axel Springer Polska AG and Hallenstadion AG. In November 2019, she initiated and launched the Ringier EqualVoice initiative, which aims to make women more visible in media reporting and to promote equality between women and men. Annabella Bassler studied economics at the European Business School in Oestrich-Winkel, Germany, and in Buenos Aires and Los Angeles.

Manuel has been a member of the Group Executive Board and Head of Corporate Center at Ringier since May 2021. In addition, he has held the positions of Group General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer since October 2020. Before joining Ringier, Manuel worked for many years as a lawyer at one of Switzerland’s leading commercial law firms. Manuel studied law at the University of Basel, where he also earned his doctorate. He then spent two years in the USA (as a visiting fellow at Yale University, New Haven, and a foreign associate at one of the leading law firms in New York). He is the author of various legal publications, as well as co-author of a successful textbook on private international law.

As the Founder and Chairperson of Fondation Rolf Schnyder, Chai has been doing philanthropic work for many years – providing education, medical and other assistance for disadvantaged children and their families. Her activities take her all over the world, while she maintains a keen interest in the Southeast Asia region and stateless children. Between 2011 and 2014, she chaired the board of Ulysse Nardin SA, a Swiss watchmaking company. 
Born and raised in Malaysia, Chai is a mother of 3, with a Master’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering.