The only thing of importance, when we depart, will the traces of love we have left behind - Albert Schweitzer
IELA lost a visionary and creative pioneer of the Association, and all of us have lost an amazing human being.
Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Hansruedi have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Hans-R. leaves behind an Association that only he together with other founders already gone could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of IELA.
At the end of June 2021, during the session entitled LEGENDS OF IELA and taking place within the IELA 36 th annual congress, we paid tribute to the founding fathers, and especially to Hansruedi.
We were sad that he could not attend the online event, but we were happy to be able to remember the beginnings of the association he founded, with his dedication, his passion and all his heart. We were proud to explain to the new members about our visionary Hans-R. and how he made it possible that 36 years later, his dream brings together 165 companies located in 56 countries.
No words can adequately express our sadness at Hansruedi’s death. We will honour his memory by dedicating ourselves to continuing the work he loved so much.
Hansruedi will remain forever in our hearts. Thank you, Dear Hansruedi. Rest in peace.
The IELA Seniors Club also owes a lot to Hans. Without the farsightedness and commitment of Hans, the club would not exist today. His founding of the club is another example of his visionary thinking. The Seniors Club continues to live in his spirit. ”
said Edgar von der Heydt on behalf of the IELA SENIORS CLUB.
Dear Hans, you have been a pioneer of IELA. You left a great void that we will try to fill by committing ourselves every day to the growth of our Association. Thank you for your endless dedication.
Guido Fornelli, IELA 2020-2022 Chairperson
What can one say about Hans? He was a true gentleman, statesman, IELA ambassador. In fact he was “Mr. IELA”. He was a true mentor to me and many others in our industry. He is sorely missed, but we will continue his legacy in the years to come.
Sandi Trotter, IELA 2020-2022 Vice-Chairperson
My first encounter with Hansruedi was in 1985 when he employed me at Inter Transport. Little by little, Hansruedi transmitted to me the exhibition virus and the IELA family spirit. When Inter ExpoLogistics was founded in 2000, he took pleasure in reminding me that when I started to work with him in 1985, I didn’t want to work in exhibitions. Hansruedi was more than a director at Inter Transport or business partner at IEL. He was first a friend with whom we could talk about everything. He was a visionary, hard worker but he was also always up for a good time. Hansruedi will be greatly missed by me and my family.
Roberto Fumani, INTER EXPOLOGISTICS LTD www.iel.ch
When I first met Hansruedi, it was in the late 90’s when we were both board members of the Geneva Freight Forwarders Association. At that time, Hans was representing Inter Transport and I was employed by Sauvin Schmidt. In 2004, four years after he founded IEL (Inter ExpoLogistics) together with Roberto (and other partners), he suggested that I could take over his position before his final retirement. Done! This was the beginning of a fruitful collaboration. Working with Hans face-to-face has been an amazing experience. I learned a lot, including not acting precipitously in front of a problem. Hans enforced high demands from his colleagues but in the same time he was also highly demanding of himself. He was able to be in the office very early in the morning and leave very late at night, but something he could hardly miss was a turbo nap after lunchtime. An insatiable worker, a man of wisdom, Hans was also full of humour and friendly. He was my mentor, my advisor, my teacher, my guide, my friend… Hans was precious and he will remain forever in my heart.
Manuel Mazzini, INTER EXPOLOGISTICS LTD www.iel.ch
Alice Brauchli, wife of Hansruedi, also share a few word with us:
Hansruedi and I met in 1958 in London. We got married in 1962 and were proud parents of 3 sons and a daughter. Unfortunately, one of our twins passed away in 2014. That was certainly the most difficult moment in Hansruedi’s life.
When our children were small, they didn’t see much of their father. He left for work early in the morning and came home most of the time when the children were already in bed. I suppose that was the case of most of the people who worked in the moving industry, but he was nevertheless a wonderful father to them. He also was a very dear grandfather to our 10 grandchildren!
It’s actually after having attended some FIDI and (SETI) OMNI conventions (global alliance of quality-certified international moving and relocation companies), he had the idea of creating an analogue global network in the exhibition industry.
As you know, it started back in 1979, when Steve Barry and Hansruedi started discussing the possibility of creating a platform where companies active in the exhibition freight forwarding business could meet. Many meetings took place between the two men and later, in 1983 a first official meeting attended by Steve Barry, Ernest Droessaert, David J. Gardner, Klaus Rauch, Peter Kuoni and Hansruedi took place in Geneva to study the possibility to set up a legal organisation for those companies involved in the International Exhibition Transport and Service Industry. On March 6 th 1985, IELA was born in Geneva.
Hansruedi was also very much involved in our city. He was for a very long time president of the «Association des Habitants» and was active until the end of his life. There was a wonderful «homage» to him in our newspaper - and he deserved it!
I for myself, have been very fortunate in many ways during the many decades we were together and the wonderful memories help me to overcome the big loss now. I could attend most of the conferences of IELA and Hansruedi and I met many wonderful people from all over the world and some of them became true friends! What is more precious in the world?
You can read on a headstone in Ireland: « Death leaves a heartache no one can heal – Love leaves a memory no one can steal!
I would lik to thank all our friends at IELA from all over the world for the wonderful friendship and I wish everybody good luck and hope that business will very soon become normal again after this long pandemic period! Love, Alice
