Director general of the Geneva University Hospital (Hôpitaux universitaires de Genève - HUG) since September 1st 2024, Robert Mardini was previously Director general of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), from March 2020 to March 2024. At the head of the institution's executive, he oversaw the ICRC's extensive humanitarian operations, conducted by its 20,000 employees in over 100 countries and territories. Robert Mardini holds a Master's degree in civil and hydraulic engineering from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL). Full biography
Chair of the Executive committee
Director general
Members of the Executive committee
Deputy director general
Deputy director general of the HUG from June 2025, Jean-François Pradeau also serves as the director of Digital transformation and augmented intelligence, a position he has held since 2016, after joining the department in 2014. For the past thirty years, he has worked across both public and private sectors, primarily for strategy consultants in healthcare and social services, as well as for governmental institutions. Jean-François Pradeau holds a degree in engineering with a specialization in healthcare management.
Chief medical and quality officer
Chief medical and quality officer at HUG since January 2025, Prof. Pósfay Barbe oversees clinical research and postgraduate training, and approves the medical and therapeutic practices of medical services and units. She holds a federal medical diploma and a doctorate from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Geneva.
Director of education and research
Director of education and research at HUG, Prof. Geissbühler is a trained internist with a specialisation in medical informatics from Vanderbilt University (USA). Since 1999, he has held the chair in medical informatics at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Geneva (UNIGE), recognized as a UNESCO chair for digital medical training. He also leads the HUG's Service of eHealth and telemedicine, a World Health Organization (WHO) collaborating centre.
Director of nursing
Director of nursing at HUG since March 2017, Sandra Merkli’s mission is to ensure the quality and safety of care within the institution by leading one of its most strategic departments, which comprises 7,000 professionals and represents 56% of the HUG’s staff. She holds a postgraduate degree in healthcare management from the University of Geneva.
Director of finance
Director of finance at HUG since February 2020, Rémy Mathieu is responsible for maintaining the financial balance of HUG, developing the overall and detailed budgets for the medical departments, overseeing patient administrative management, coordinating pricing with the institution's economic partners, and conducting medico-economic analyses of medical activities. Rémy Mathieu holds an engineering degree from the École Spéciale des Travaux Publics in Paris and an MBA from the Hautes Études Commerciales (HEC) in Lille.
Director of human resources
Director of human resources of the HUG since May 2025, Robert Tanner brings over 25 years' experience in both the public and private sectors. He holds a federal certificate (professional certification) as HR Specialist and a federal diploma in human resources management, as well as a Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) and a Diploma of Advanced Studies (DAS) in leadership.
Director of digital transformation and augmented intelligence
Director of digital transformation and augmented intelligence ad interim at HUG, Christine Morisseau is an engineer specialized in information systems management and holds a Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in sustainable development. She takes up this position as of July 2025.
Invited members of the Executive committee
Director of executive office and external affairs
Advisor to the director general of the HUG since October 2024, as director of executive office and external affairs since 2018, Véronique Maye Voutat's mission is to foster a culture of openness and forge exceptional partnerships both in Switzerland and internationally.
Director of communications
Director of communications at HUG since October 2020, Frédérique Tissandier develops and leads, in collaboration with the executive management, the internal and external communication strategy of Switzerland's largest university hospital. She supervises the institution's communication channels and leverages her multidisciplinary background to promote the hospital through content that highlights the institution's expertise and innovations.
Director of legal affairs, integrity and compliance
Director of legal affairs, integrity and compliance at HUG since 2018, Laurent Tran worked as a lawyer in the business world before joining HUG as legal counsel. He holds a law degree from the University of Neuchâtel and is admitted to the Swiss bar, as well as a doctorate in law (PhD) from the University of Geneva. He is the author of several scientific publications on a variety of legal topics.
Find out more about the organisational structure of the HUG
