Interview with François Jager, Pension Board member since July 2025

François was a runner-up in the last elections and now sits on the AVENA Pension Board as an employee representative. He is delighted with his new role, which dovetails with his regular work at Leclanché.

How did you become a member of the AVENA Pension Board?
At Leclanché, we used to have our own pension fund, but in 2022 we decided to switch to a collective solution. We issued a call for proposals and selected AVENA. I had been active in our company pension fund, as my colleagues had impressed upon me the importance of getting involved. When Francis Bouvier told me about the upcoming Pension Board elections and said they were short of candidates from the employee side, I agreed to throw my hat in the ring. Last July, I was bumped up from the reserve list to sit on the Pension Board.

What made you decide to run?
As with my previous involvement in Leclanché’s fund, I firmly believe that pension planning should be overseen on a 50/50 basis by labor and management. Having spent four years involved in our own fund, it made sense to continue. I don’t have a background in occupational pensions, but I’ve enjoyed learning about the issue, including through training. With AVENA, I’ve again witnessed how important it is to keep track of your occupational pension savings. It’s just a shame that most people around me don’t seem all that interested. I also enjoy working in a field that’s fundamentally different from my regular job.

Tell us about your career so far.
I’ve been working at Leclanché for 12 years. I’m Vice President of Operation Support, in charge of special projects and reporting directly to the CEO. My background at the company is in procurement and supply chain. Previous to that, I obtained a master’s degree at Toulouse Business School and an MBA at Arizona State University, majoring in supply chain management. I began my career at Alcatel’s international operations, based in the US, then moved to the global HQ in Paris. After the telecoms bubble burst, I decided on a career change. That’s how I arrived in Switzerland, to become a researcher at IMD.

What has surprised you in your first year on the Board?
I’ve really enjoyed the working environment within the Board. I joined a team that was already up and running, part-way through their terms of office. So it was up to me fit it and ask the right questions. I’m also a member of the Marketing & Communications and Real Estate committees. These are themes that resonate with me because they involve forecasting and considering pension planning from another angle. In real estate, for example, we need
to examine how towns and neighborhoods are changing so we can get a better grasp of investment opportunities. This approach is completely different from the way individuals invest in property, which is more emotionally driven. In marketing and communications, I’m naturally drawn to the online and IT spheres, but I’m also learning a lot from my conversations with other committee members.

How do you see the pension system evolving?
I really think we ought to be educating people about the importance of pension planning. When talking with my colleagues, it’s obvious that most of them don’t really think about it until they reach the age of 55, for example. Of course, it’s unrealistic to think about your pension plan all the time, especially when you’re young. For many people, thinking about retirement while their careers are still in full swing may seem a bit gloomy. But that’s when you can still have an impact on your pension, such as the monthly amount you’ll receive. People seem to be in denial about retirement, potentially out of fear. Then all of a sudden, they realize that their pension pot is too small. We have an important role to play in educating people about – dare I say demystifying – their pension plans. Another challenge is managing the retirement assets themselves, especially coping with the swings in financial markets amid all the geopolitical tensions. Thankfully at AVENA, we have clear investment rules that limit the risks we can take. And we take a very long-term view.

In communicating, what are your main messages?
We have to be down to earth and use real-life examples. At Leclanché, affiliating with AVENA gave us an Opportunity to inform employees about the advantages of their pension plan. Some of them were surprised in a positive sense.

What do you do in your free time?
I’ve been living in Vaud Canton for the past 20 years and have both Swiss and French citizenship. I cycle often but I also practice Krav Maga, a martial art. I also like all kinds of DIY, and I’m a guitar player.