Meet Our New Honorary Consul Rene Riedi

Professionally, Rene has been working for Dufry, a leading travel retail operator, since 1993. He has held various management positions at the headquarters in Basel as well as abroad. He served as a member of the executive board between 2000 and 2020. Prior to crossing the Atlantic in 2012, he lived in the Middle East for 10 years. Based on his long-standing affiliation with the company and the extensive experience as the company’s Ambassador in Central- and Latin America and Advisor to the Group CEO, he is currently serving in the role of Executive Advisor.

Rene is married to his wife Olga and they live together with their dog Luca, a Havapoo, in their beautiful home in Coral Gables. In his leisure time, he loves to be outdoors and play golf, read a book, or watch a film.

Rene feels deeply honored to be named Honorary Consul in Miami and to represent Switzerland in the South of Florida. He is excited about the opportunity to serve the Swiss community, whether living in or just passing through South Florida, and he looks forward to nurturing the bilateral relationship between the U.S. and Switzerland in the domains of business, culture, and science.

Taking the torch from his predecessor Ferdinand Kurt, Rene notes “It will be a joy and honor to continue Ferdinand’s work. At the same time, his achievements are coupled with high expectations and goals for my own term. My objective will be to always have an ‘open ear’ for the needs of the Swiss community”. Rene adds, “A good cohesion in the Swiss community is important to me. Therefore, working with the Swiss Club Miami, the Florida Chapter of the Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce and other community organizations will be an essential part of my assignment.”