Beat W. Hess holds the position of Chairman of LafargeHolcim Ltd. Dr. Hess is also on the board of Sonova Holding AG, Hague Institute for the Internalisation of Law and Sonova AG and Member of The Hague Academy of International Law and Member of Swiss Bar Association. In his past career Dr. Hess was Independent Non-Executive Director at Nestlé SA, Secretary & General Counsel at ABB Ltd. and Legal Counsel at BBC Brown Boveri Ltd. (a subsidiary of ABB Ltd.), Group Legal Director at Royal Dutch Shell Plc and General Counsel for Abb Group (Switzerland). Dr. Hess received a graduate degree from the University of Geneva, a graduate degree from the University of Miami School of Law and a doctorate from the University of Fribourg.