At its meeting on Tuesday, 3rd October 2017, the Board of the Association unanimously elected Board member John Rolley as Vice-President of SFOU.
John has a Master’s degree from Oxford University (Lincoln College), was a Visiting Professor of Business Communication at Webster University, Geneva, and studied opera singing at the Conservatoire de Nice. John is Managing Partner at R&R Value Partners, specialists in corporate performance enhancement. He was formerly head of Advisory & Sales Training Delivery in Europe at UBS, regional manager of the Financial Times for a number of major markets, and Chairman of the British-Swiss Chamber of Commerce in Geneva.
A new association has been launched in Zurich to help the University of Oxford’s supporters
in Switzerland make tax-efficient donations to the University and its colleges.
Swiss Friends of Oxford University (SFOU) allows alumni, friends and organisations to give
financial support for key projects, including capital projects, academic posts, scholarships and
research programmes. It can also accept gifts in kind. The association will also provide
financial support for Swiss resident students through a scholarship fund, and will organise
events for its members.
At yesterday’s special Board meeting, Howard Rosen CBE, SFOU President and alumnus of
Exeter College, said: “After close to two years of preparation, Swiss Friends is at last ready to
get to work. Not only are donations from Swiss residents now tax deductible, legacies and
gifts in kind are also exempt from any applicable cantonal tax. We’re confident this will
increase support for Oxford and look forward to welcoming lots of members.”
Liesl Elder, Chief Development Officer at the University, said: “This represents the
beginning of a new and exciting relationship between the University and Swiss Friends. We
are enormously grateful to Howard and his colleagues for all of their hard work and
dedication. The new association will assist us greatly to attract more donors based in
Switzerland and support the University of Oxford’s vital research and teaching activities.”
To find out more about the Swiss Friends of Oxford University please e-mail: info@oxfordfriends.ch.
Board members from L-R: Guy Spier, Liesl Elder, Howard Rosen, John Rolley
After close to two years of preparation, the statutes have been drafted, the Association established, tax rulings have been negotiated, the branding has been created, the bank account has been set up, and the board elected.
SFOU is at last ready to get to work.
Its role is to make it easier and more tax efficient for alumni and supporters living in Switzerland to help Oxford University and its colleges and departments remain the best educational institution in the world.
Our official launch will be at the beginning of October, but the Association is already accepting members and processing donations.
