New Swiss Consul General Begins Official Duties in Atlanta 

A new Swiss consul general covering the Southeast U.S. has touched down in Atlanta, taking up the posting as trade tensions dial down and engagement with the region has ramped up.

Rolf Ott comes to Atlanta from Sofia, Bulgaria, where he was the deputy head of mission in the Swiss embassy. 

He replaces Urs Brönnimann, who retired from a long career in the Swiss foreign service upon leaving Atlanta. 

Mr. Ott also comes on the heels of the most recent visit to Atlanta from the Swiss ambassador in Washington, Ralf Heckner, who gave context to the country’s positions on the bilateral trade relationship during a luncheon with the Atlanta Council on International Relations Dec. 1, just after the details of the trade deal with the Trump administration were made clear. Swiss firms were faced with a 39 percent “Liberation Day” tariff that was lowered to 15 percent.

Relatedly, Dr. Heckner was back in the South Dec. 11 for the opening of a Novartis plant, part of a new plan by the pharmaceutical giant to invest $23 billion in the U.S. 

[Global Atlanta caught up with the ambassador in January to talk trade and investment in an emailed Q&A: Ambassador: Southeast Vital for Switzerland’s Efforts to Deepen U.S. Trade and Investment Ties]

In an email to the Swiss community, Mr. Ott noted that he started his tenure on Jan. 23 with “mixed emotions,” given the deaths of 40 people in a fire at the Constellation night club on New Year’s Eve in the Swiss city of Crans-Montana. 

“While a new year usually brings hope and fresh beginnings, recent events have also reminded us of life’s fragility,” Mr. Ott wrote, referencing the incident and saying his thoughts remain with the families of those killed. 

The tragedy notwithstanding, Mr. Ott expressed optimism about the consulate’s ability to help drive constructive bilateral dialogue in a vital region of the U.S., writing:  

The Swiss-American relationship is built not only on economic and political cooperation, but also on shared values, human connections, and mutual support. The Swiss community in the Southeast plays a vital role in strengthening these ties through entrepreneurship, cultural exchange, education, and civic engagement. Together with my team at the Consulate General, I am committed to supporting you and to fostering projects throughout the region.

Mr. Ott, who hails from the Italian-speaking region of Switzerland, is fluent in Italian, French and German and “views languages as bridges between cultures,” according to the consulate.

Over a 23-year career, his foreign postings include stints in Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malaysia, and the Czech Republic, along with Bulgaria. He also held a position as deputy regional coordinator for the African division in Bern and studied business administration before joining the foreign service. 

Learn more in the Consulate’s LinkedIn post about his arrival. The consulate covers 10 Southern states and the Cayman Islands.

See the consul general’s CV here: