Early Life and Education
Martin Walter Haefner was born in Switzerland in 1954. He is the son of Walter Haefner, a prominent Swiss businessman who founded AMAG Automobil- und Motoren AG in 1945. Walter Haefner established AMAG as Switzerland's leading importer of vehicles from brands including Volkswagen, Audi, Bentley, and Porsche. Martin Haefner studied mathematics at ETH Zurich.
Rise to Success
After completing his studies, Haefner worked as a high school mathematics teacher for many years. He later transitioned into finance and business. His professional journey began in investment banking, with roles in Zurich, Hong Kong, and London, before he joined the family enterprises. At the age of 50, he took charge of AMAG, the family-owned importer of Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda, and SEAT cars into Switzerland. In 2006, he became Executive Chairman of AMAG Group, which imports and sells vehicles from brands including Volkswagen, Audi, Bentley, and Porsche, and he later acquired full ownership, including buying out his sister Eva Maria Bucher-Haefner's stake in 2018. Haefner became the sole owner of AMAG after his father's death.
Key Business Strategies
Haefner's strategic business decisions include the acquisition of full ownership of AMAG Group and diversification of his investments beyond the automotive sector. He also co-owns the Bellerive Hotel in Lausanne, Switzerland. Through the sale of their participation in the US software company CA Technologies, funds were available for additional investments. Haefner is also the main shareholder of Swiss Steel (formerly Schmolz + Bickenbach), a steel producer. He has shown a strategic focus on succession planning, establishing the Martin+Marianne Haefner Foundation in 2024 to manage their assets after their deaths.
Philanthropy
Haefner is committed to philanthropy. He has supported scientific advancement through major donations, including 40 million Swiss francs to the ETH Foundation in 2020 to fund the construction of a specialized quantum research laboratory (the HPQ building) on ETH Zurich's Hönggerberg campus, aimed at bolstering Switzerland's position in quantum technology.