Switzerland’s Greater Zürich Area AG has named Friedemann Thomma, the chair of Venable LLP’s International Tax Practice,as one of its eight Honorary Ambassadors. The ceremony took place on October 11, 2017, at the Swiss Consul General’s Residence in San Francisco, and the appointment was presented by the Counsel General of Switzerland in San Francisco, Hans-Ulrich Tanner, and former U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland Suzi Levine.

The honorary appointment is given to individuals who have supported the Greater Zürich Area’s economic region. The Honorary Ambassadors work to assist those interested in doing business in the United States and Zürich, especially in attracting technology companies and entrepreneurs.

Mr. Thomma, who has served in the Swiss military and worked building and assembling grand pianos in Switzerland, has been very active in handling corporate international tax planning issues for Swiss and other multinational corporate clients. He has managed large-scale global structuring projects and has worked closely with in-house tax, legal, treasury, and accounting departments to implement legal and tax restructuring projects and post-M&A-integration projects.

“I’m honored to receive this appointment from the Greater Zürich Area AG. Zürich is a global engine of economic growth, and the companies and financial institutions there have been a key driver of corporate transactions for many years. All multinational companies – and those who hope to expand to the global sphere – are involved with the Zürich business sector. I am glad to have been able to work on transactions with the top professionals in Zürich,” said Mr. Thomma.