Sonja Wollkopf Walt studied law at the University of Bern. After interdisciplinary postgraduate studies in European law, economics and politics in Bassl and several years as a teaching and research assistant, she started her professional career as a consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers. After additional training in marketing and management, she joined the newly founded Greater Zurich Area AG (then The Zurich Network) in August 1999 as project and marketing manager. In October 2002, Ms Wollkopf Walt became a member of the Executive Board and, as COO, was responsible for the entire operational business. Her responsibilities also included the establishment and further development of the markets in the USA, Europe and Russia. She has been Managing Director of the Greater Zurich Area AG since 1 January 2010.