Heinrich Villiger passed away peacefully on July 25th, 2025 at the age of 95, his family announced today. Heinrich Villiger was an active Chairman of the Board of Villiger Söhne Holding AG and Villiger Söhne AG until the end and was the third generation of the cigar manufacturer’s tradition. Under his leadership, Villiger successfully developed into a renowned international company.
Corina Villiger, eldest daughter, and member of the Board of Directors of the Villiger Group: “It is with gratitude that we bid farewell to our father Heinrich Villiger, who has led the Villiger family business strategically and operationally with great commitment for 75 years He loved cigars and cigarillos – and was a passionate entrepreneur and courageous visionary, setting a lasting mark on the tobacco industry in Switzerland and beyond. Our father leaves a big gap; the privilege of continuing the tradition of the family business in the fourth and fifth generations means a lot to us”.
Corina Villiger and Heinrich Villiger’s grandson Lucien Villiger have been active on the Board of Directors for many years already and will continue to represent the family on this committee, in addition to Rolf Kaufmann. Villiger also stated in a press release that the Villiger Group remains in family ownership, Vice-President Jvo Grundler becomes Chairman of the Board of Directors and the company’s long-term focused strategy will be continued.
With immediate effect, Jvo Grundler, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of Villiger Group since 2020, will take over as Chairman. As part of the succession planning, Heinrich Villiger had determined that the chairmanship should be taken over by Jvo Grundler as independent board member as well as trusted advisor to balance the interests of the four descendants and their families. Jvo Grundler is a lawyer and member of various boards of directors and foundations.
“Heinrich Villiger was an old-school patron who inspired employees, customers and business partners with his unique expertise, innovative spirit and entrepreneurial thinking. We will miss him very much.”, Jvo Grundler said. “At the same time, I feel obliged and honoured to successfully develop the Villiger Group’s long-term strategy – together with the Board of Directors, the Executive Board and the teams worldwide – in the spirit of the entrepreneur Heinrich Villiger and his family.”
