Roman Mayer takes over as Head of the Federal Office for Spatial Development
With the appointment of Roman Mayer as the new Director of the Federal Office for Spatial Development, the Federal Council has chosen an experienced leader with legal expertise, strategic planning skills and extensive administrative experience. The move signals a clear strengthening of integrated spatial development. A central pillar for the future of Swiss locations.
Roman Mayer will take over as Head of the Federal Office for Spatial Development (ARE) on 1 October 2025. The 51-year-old from Nidwalden brings with him in-depth knowledge from his previous role as Deputy Director at the Federal Office of Energy and is considered an expert in complex authorisation procedures, legislative processes and sectoral planning.
With his legal training and his positions in various cantonal administrations, Lucerne, Basel-Landschaft and Bern, Mayer stands for a balanced combination of expertise, administrative practice and strategic foresight.
Spatial development as the key to location attractiveness
The ARE is at the centre of spatially relevant future issues such as overall transport, settlement development, sustainable use of resources, maintaining quality of life and promoting economic areas. Under the new management, it is expected that these challenges will be tackled in an even more networked manner – with coherent, forward-looking planning across sectors and spatial types.
This is a key message for investors, project developers and location managers. The federal government is strengthening the planning framework and thus promoting stable and attractive investment areas in the long term.
Generational change with vision
Roman Mayer succeeds Maria Lezzi, who has headed the Federal Office since 2009 and will retire at the end of September. Her era was characterised by far-reaching impulses in spatial planning and the sustainable development of Switzerland. The Federal Council would like to thank her for her many years of service.
In Mayer, a high-profile personality is now taking over who will continue to think about and shape spatial development in the context of social, ecological and economic transformation.