Chantal Beck takes over as head of zb Zentralbahn AG

The board of directors of zb Zentralbahn AG, which is based in Stansstad in the Swiss canton of Nidwalden, has appointed Chantal Beck as the company's new managing director. The 43-year-old Swiss national will take up her new position on 1 December 2025.

The tourism expert is currently managing director of RailAway AG, an SBB subsidiary based in Lucerne that combines leisure experiences with public transport. Previously, she was deputy director of the Swiss tourism association Schweizer Tourismus-Verband in Bern. 

“Chantal Beck impressed us in numerous discussions with her personality, qualifications, and experience, as well as her strong social skills, outstanding leadership abilities, and great sense of responsibility,” Toni Häne, Chairman of the Board of Directors, is quoted as saying.

Chantal Beck succeeds Michael Schürch, who has been managing director of the railway company since 2016. He is leaving at his own request to pursue a new professional challenge, according to a statement from the annual general meeting in June.

Zentralbahn was formed in 2005 from a merger between SBB Brünigbahn and Luzern-Stans-Engelbergbahn. With more than 500 employees, it carried a total of 13.8 million passengers in 2024. ce/ug