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 a Co-Founder of EvalCo Sàrl, a Swiss-based company specialized in advising governments, UN Organizations and NGOs on development aid in emerging countries. He has conducted more than 200 assignments in 55 countries. Before establishing his own consulting business in 2001, Daniel worked for four years as a General Director and Vice-President of the Board of Directors of the Ringier – Thong Nhat Joint Venture, Vietnam’s first foreign-invested contract publishing company. After more than 17 years in Vietnam, he now lives in Switzerland together with his family. Daniel, who is fluent in Vietnamese, also served on several Board of Directors in Vietnam. As an Investment Committee member of all five private equity funds managed by Mekong Capital since 2002, he has participated in every investment and divestment decision.

Annabella Bassler has been CFO of Ringier AG since June 2012. She began her career at Ringier in 2007, working in a number of financial roles. In addition she has also been responsible for Ringier’s activities in Romania since mid-2014. She is a member of the Board of Directors of Ticketcorner AG, Ringier Axel Springer Media AG and Ringier Axel Springer Schweiz AG, among others. In November 2019, she initiated and launched the Ringier EqualVoice Initiative, which aims to make women more visible in reporting and give them an equal voice. Annabella Bassler studied economics at the European Business School in Oestrich-Winkel, Buenos Aires and Los Angeles, subsequently completing a doctorate.

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), and since then has also regularly held teaching positions at the University of Zurich. 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.