Jakob Baer (1944) started his career in 1971 at the Federal Finance Administration. From 1975 to 1991, he was with Fides Group where he held various positions including Consultant, Head of Legal Department, Branch Office Manager, Zurich and Member of the Division Management Advisory Services. During 1991/1992, Jakob Baer led the planning and execution of the management buyout of the Advisory Services unit of Fides Group, which became part of KPMG Switzerland. He was a member of the Executive Committee of KPMG Switzerland from 1992 to 1994. From 1994 to 2004 he held the position of CEO of KPMG Switzerland and was a member of KPMG’s European and International Leadership Boards.

Jakob Baer was Counsel at Niederer Kraft & Frey AG, attorneys at law, Zurich, Switzerland, from 2004 to 2009.  He also served as a member of the Board of Directors of Adecco from 2004 to 2012, of Swiss Re and of Allreal Holding AG, both from 2005 to 2014, of Rieter Holding AG from 2006 to 2016, of IFBC AG from 2007 to June 2018 and of Stäubli Holding AG (Chairman), Switzerland, from 2007 to May 2019.

Jakob Baer was admitted to the bar (1971) and subsequently obtained a Doctorate degree in Law (Dr. iur.) from the University of Bern, Switzerland.