Serge Reymond, President of 42 Lausanne

Prior to taking up the presidency of 42 Lausanne, Serge Reymond spent a decade (2009-2020 at the helm of Tamedia's paid-for newspapers, where he led the digital transition of a sector undergoing rapid change. These years were marked by major challenges: rethinking business models, developing new digital formats, and above all, meeting the human challenge of attracting and training the talent capable of driving these transformations.

"We had a lot of ideas, but we needed the mindset and skills to implement them", he recalls. Against a backdrop of a shortage of technical talent, he was able to draw on a variety of profiles to drive his projects forward.

The right project at the right time

One day Serge came across Christophe Wagnière, with whom he shared a long friendship. When Christophe first brought up the idea of launching 42 Lausanne, Serge didn't hesitate.

His role in this adventure was multiple: to mobilise his economic, political and media networks to find the necessary funding, but also to support the implementation of a concept which, although tried and tested elsewhere, had to be adapted to the local reality. "It's an entrepreneurial adventure where we had to build everything from scratch, convince partners and manage a complex start-up phase."

A mission beyond the title

Chairing 42 Lausanne, for Serge, goes far beyond a formal role. "It's an adventure of friendship and transformation." Together with Christophe. they have debated, slowed down, sped up, and always sought to align their visions to move the school forward.

But there is also a deeply societal dimension to his commitment. "42 is more than an educational programme. It's a chance to shine a light on untapped talent, young people for whom traditional systems don't work well. It's a way of strengthening our country's economic strength by giving everyone equal opportunities."

The future of 42 Lausanne

Today, the challenge for Serge and the whole 42 Lausanne team is clear: to ensure the long-term future of 42 Lausanne. The school must become an institution that cannot be ignored, capable of operating beyond its founders.

To achieve this, Serge and Christophe are working to expand the committee and mobilise sponsors. "For the organisation to function independently of the people who created it, it needs solid governance and a natural visibility in the educational landscape."

Today, the challenge for Serge and the whole 42 Lausanne team is clear: to ensure the long-term future of 42 Lausanne. The school must become an institution that cannot be ignored, capable of operating beyond the founders.

A commitment to transformation

Beyond 42, Serge acts as an independent director, develops businesses and provides his expertise in crisis situations. But 42 Lausanne remains a project "coup de coeur" for this entrepreneur at heart, a commitment that combines people, digital transformation, and a desire to reveal the talents of tomorrow.