WIRZ History
For over 85 years, we have been one of Switzerland's leading creative agencies. During this time, we have set important milestones and realized countless, innovative projects for our broad client base.
1936
Foundation by Adolf Wirz.
1936
Co-founding of GfM, Adolf Wirz is part-time head of GfM survey service.
1953
Book "Sell better through market research" by Adolf Wirz.
1953
Poster for Coca-Cola with illustration by Herbert Leupin.
1958
Move to the Uetlibergstrasse.
1963
First B12 poster in Switzerland, for PKZ.
1964
Statement by Adolf Wirz in the NZZ against the book "Die geheimen Verführer" ("The Secret Seducers").
1966
Poster for Lindt chocolate.
1967
Foundation of Wirz Holding AG.
1969
Resignation of Adolf Wirz.
1969
From this year on, Jost Wirz and Hans Ulrich Schweizer leave their mark on the Wirz Group.
1977
Publication of the book "Der Humanist ist der bessere Manager" from Adolf Wirz.
1978
Foundation of Wirz Public Relations AG.
1983
Poster for the NZZ.
1991
Foundation of the Agency Wirz Identity (from 2017 Wirz Brand Relations).
1997
Introduction of the newly developed brand "Swisscom".
1998
Start of partnership with BBDO Worldwide.
1999
Start of the "IWC for Men" campaign.
2000
Acquisition of Assai Interactive.
2001
The last issue of the Swissair Gazette from Frontpage AG.
2002
Geri Aebi joins the company as CEO.
2003
Fusion of Wirz Identity, Wirz Public Relations and Frontpage to the new Wirz Corporate AG.
2004
Winning of the Mobiliar account, which Wirz subsequently managed for almost 15 years.
2005
Jost Wirz sells his majority of shares to Geri Aebi, Urs Binggeli, Michel Juhasz and Peter Strub as part of an MBO.
2005
Introduction of the newly designed, Switzerland-wide harmonized Migros brand identity.
2009
First win of the Migros pitch. Since then WIRZ has been working for Migros without interruption. Winning the main budget 2020.
2010
WIRZ launches Nanomania, the first of Migros' modern large-scale promotions.
2011
On the occasion of its 75th anniversary, WIRZ personally dedicates a special issue to the agency.
2013
Introduction of the new corporate identity of PostFinance AG as part of its transformation into a stock corporation.
2017
Wirz Corporate changes its name to Wirz Brand Relations. Thomas Städeli takes over as CEO.
2017
Petra Dreyfus and Livio Dainese becomes Co-CEO.
2018/2019
Livio Dainese and Petra Dreyfus earn the Advertiser of the Year awards.
2021
Andreas Schmid passes on the office of Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Wirz Group to Jürg Stuker.
