Thomas Schmidheiny Owner of the company "Holcim" Country: Switzerland

Biography of Thomas Schmidheiny

Thomas Schmidheiny is a well-known entrepreneur and billionaire, best known as the owner of the company "Holcim". He began his career in 1970 when he was appointed as the Technical Director of Holcim. In 1976, he joined the Executive Committee of the company and just two years later, in 1978, he became the Chairman of Holcim. He held this position until 2001. During his tenure, Thomas also served as the Chairman of the Board until 2003.

Currently, Thomas owns 23.6 percent of Holcim, which is one of the leading suppliers of cement and other construction materials worldwide. The company operates in 70 countries and employs around 90,000 people. What was once a small enterprise in the village of Holderbank, located 40 kilometers from Zurich, has now become a global production giant.

Thomas Schmidheiny inherited his fortune, but he also played a significant role in expanding his wealth through his entrepreneurial activities. A few years ago, his personal capital was estimated to be around four and a half billion dollars. He resides in Switzerland with his wife and four children.

Thomas received his education in Switzerland, where he graduated from the Technological Institute in Zurich with a Bachelor's degree in Science and Engineering. He further pursued his education at Tufts University, where he completed additional courses. In 1999, Thomas successfully defended his doctoral thesis.

Holcim's success can be attributed to its global presence and ability to compete with other cement manufacturers such as Lafarge. In 2007, the company's sales reached a staggering 27 billion dollars. Holcim not only focuses on growth and expansion but also closely monitors market demands for new products and continuously enhances the skills and knowledge of its employees.