Faculty & Staff

Ben Smith is a dedicated educator with over a decade of experience in higher education. As Senior Lecturer and 1st Year Program Manager at HIM Business School, he is committed to student success, curriculum innovation, and the student experience. He holds an MA in Higher Education and further qualifications in Marketing and Customer Experience. He developed and launched HIM’s Introduction to Customer Experience course and champions a customer-focused culture across the Year One program.

Gedeon Tumong is a Doctor in Business Administration (DBA) candidate, and is completing a Master in Public Finance from the University of Lausanne. He holds a MBA from Schiller International University, certificates in Market Intelligence and Financial Regulations from New York Stock Exchange, and the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington DC. He has worked for international organizations such as the UN and Texaco Oil and founded a car dealership.

Dr. Ruby Khurdi is an award-winning innovative educationist, TEDx speaker, emotional intelligence expert, and acclaimed international keynote speaker. She joined HIM in 2018 and her teaching style focuses on gamification, team-building, and perceptual learning. She holds PGCert in Higher Education from Derby University, UK and Doctorate in Business Administration from American University in Switzerland.

After graduating from business school, Bruno Dard began his career in the watch industry and spent 20 years developing luxury watch brands. After eight years of strategic brand building for companies such as Frédérique Constant and Alpina Geneva, he became an executive board member at Hermès, elevating the watch division by establishing clearer product offer and a more selective distribution network.

After gaining a BA in European Business Administration, Ms. Alexia Green worked in marketing, advertising, and communication roles across the UK, France, and Germany. With a career spanning the pharmaceutical, technology, and art sectors, she now serves as Head of Communications for a contemporary art gallery in Geneva. Deeply committed to the communicative power, reach, and influence of art, Alexia brings valuable commercial experience to complement the academic study of both art history and communications within the broader HIM BBA degree program.

Thi Lan Anh Ho holds a Master’s degree in Accounting from Australia and a diploma in accounting from Switzerland. She is pursuing a Master’s in Finance at the University of Neuchâtel. With over six years of private sector experience, she brings a strong emphasis on practical application to her teaching. Her expertise in Accounting Standards, particularly GAAP and IFRS, allows her to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world accounting practices, preparing students to understand the language of business.

After working for over 25 years as a Desk Manager and Bonds, Equities, and Derivatives Broker, Denis Klotz joined HIM Business School in 2020. He has an MBA in Finance from the University of Hartford and completed programs in Finance from IMD Lausanne and in FinTech from Harvard Business School. He is an expert for the “Bilateral Assistance and Capacity Building for Central Banks" program funded by Swiss SECO.

Dr. David Mc Partland has a diverse business background spanning a range of industries from travel and tourism, advertising, consultancy, and the higher education sector. David has lived and worked in several countries including Ireland, Austria, England, Spain, Australia, and Switzerland where he is currently based. 

David holds a Doctorate in Education (EdD), University of Derby, England and an MSc in Corporate Strategy and People Management, J.E. Cairnes Graduate School of Business & Economics, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland. 

His teaching and research interests are in the field of Strategic Planning, Organizational Behavior & Leadership, Human Resource Management, and Business Simulations. In adopting a hands-on approach to teaching and learning, Dr. Mc Partland is an advocate for business simulations and experiential learning within the classroom.

Meryl Sammarcelli holds a BA in English Studies and a Master’s degree in Higher Education and Research, both from Université Clermont Auvergne. She joined HIM Business School in 2023 as a French Lecturer, where she also founded the French Club through practical, conversation-based learning. Since 2025, she has expanded her teaching portfolio to include Introduction to World Cultures and Ethical Leadership and Moral Development.
Her teaching focuses on intercultural competence, cultural intelligence, ethical decision-making, and the practical application of languages in academic, professional, and everyday contexts. Her research interests include higher education, morphology and semantics, and intercultural communication. Meryl is committed to creating engaging, student-centred learning experiences that prepare students to communicate, lead, and collaborate effectively across cultures.

After working for over 28 years as an executive in wealth management with three large international banks, Peter (Pierre-M.) Sigrist joined the HIM Business School in 2024. He holds a Master of Law (M. Law) from the University of Neuchâtel in Switzerland and a Master of International Business Law (LL.M.) from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. He worked in Geneva, Zurich, Dubai, and Canada. He mainly specialized in wealth management, cross-border transactions, international trade, and business law contracts.

With a master's degree in history from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, a book and several articles published in academic journals on historical and philosophical topics, Catalina holds as well as a FSEA Certificate in Adults Education and an EUROLTA Certificate for Language Teachers from the ICC (International Language Association). She has over 20 years of experience in the higher education field, as a teacher in different countries and in managerial positions. Fluent in Spanish, French, German, English, and Italian, she has been teaching Spanish for almost 30 years and French for more than 8 years at HIM.

Andreas holds a MA in European Studies (German and French language, culture and society) from Sheffield University. He has also gained a CPE (degree equivalent) in English law. After having successfully completed his PGCE from Keele University – England, he started as a secondary school teacher in England, before moving to higher education, where he taught German and French to both BA and BBA students for several years. After having worked for more than 3 years as an independent translator and interpreter, he started at HIM and other SEG schools, where he has been teaching German, French, English and communications and research courses. During this period, Andreas also gained a FSEA Certificate in Adults Education, as well as a Certificate to teach English to adults (CELTA).

Patrice Novel is a lecturer at HIM Business School, where he teaches Mathematics for Business and Introduction to Data-Driven Decision Making. His academic interests include business education, data-driven decision making, educational technology, AI in education, and the administrative and managerial dimensions of higher education.
He is currently pursuing a Master’s in Higher Education at the University of Derby, researching leadership support, professional identity transition, and internal academic mobility in private higher education.
Before transitioning fully into academia, Patrice built more than 25 years of experience in international hospitality and later spent over a decade at Swiss Hotel Management School as Academic Chef. Today, his professional focus is firmly centred on higher education, academic development, and educational innovation.

Sviatoslav Savchuk graduated from HIM Business School in June 2024 and returned as a lecturer in Front Office and Guest Satisfaction as well as Principles of Microeconomics. During his studies, he was an active member of the student community, serving as Sports & Leisure and Operations Ambassador and took part in organizing the NUCARS international simulation. His dedication and professionalism were recognized with the Best Professional Attitude Award at graduation.
Sviatoslav gained professional front office experience in Poland, Mauritius and Iceland, before beginning his career as Front Office Supervisor at the Freddie Mercury Hotel in Switzerland after graduation. His international exposure, professional expertise, and recent academic knowledge equip him to guide students in navigating the challenges and opportunities they will encounter during their internships and studies.

An Nguyen holds a BBA from HIM/ Northwood University and an MSc in Organizational Psychology from the University of London. In 2025, she joined HIM Business School as a Lecturer, where she teaches Academic Research, Principles of Management & Leadership. Her academic background and professional expertise in leadership development, workplace wellbeing, and research on psychosocial risks in professional settings inform her teaching and commitment to creating engaging learning experiences.

With over 10 years of experience in international organizations, Ana Lou has worked with the United Nations and the World Trade Organization, gaining expertise in global policy, international relations, and economic development. She holds a Master’s in Political Science from the University of Geneva.
In January 2025, Ana joined HIM Business School as a lecturer in Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, and Contemporary Global Issues, bringing real-world perspectives from her international work.
Beyond academia, she advocates for social inclusion and disability rights through the Swiss Federation of the Blind and serves as Director of Mimorian, an educational initiative supporting students preparing for the Swiss Maturité examinations.

An academic leader with over 20 years of international experience in hospitality and culinary education, Stephan Earnhart has served as Dean and Professor at HIM Business School and Swiss Hotel Management School, driving innovation and global partnerships.
Co-founder of Unit Network and contributor to the World Economic Forum’s Crypto Sustainability Coalition, Stephan bridges education, technology, and sustainability.
He holds master’s degrees in Education and Business Administration, with diplomas from Cornell and EHL. Fluent in English, German, and Swiss German, he is passionate about innovation, Web3, and design thinking.

After 25 years of a vibrant multi entrepreneurial career conducted in France, India, and Switzerland, he became a lecturer … in Entrepreneurship. Xavier Bouillot is passionate about transmission and is the dedicated coach of the HIM Business Club. With now over ten years’ experience in higher education, he is also the course leader for International Management and Operation Management, two other fields of expertise he extensively practiced during his professional journey. He holds a bachelor’s degree in science, a master’s in business administration, and PG certificate in higher education.

Ulrika Bjorklund holds a Master’s in Education from the University of Derby. She was Academic Director of HIM from 2013 to 2023, leading key initiatives that enhanced the school's global presence. In her current role, she supports career services and student development, helping students achieve their professional goals. She also manages alumni relations, strengthening connections across Swiss Education Group’s four schools. With extensive hospitality experience managing hotels and resorts in Europe, the U.S., and the Caribbean, Ulrika combines industry and education expertise to support student and alumni success, contributing to the continued growth of HIM and Swiss Education Group.

Marie Tirvengadum holds a Bachelor in Language Studies from the University of Essex and a Postgraduate Certificate in International Business from the University of North London. Throughout her studies she worked in the restaurant sector and eventually managed a restaurant chain. She also worked in banking in the UK and after moving to Switzerland she joined Kestrel SA - a wealth management company. She joined the Career Services Department at IHTTI, School of Hotel Management and has ten years of experience in career coaching.

Alyaa Fathi has been working for over seven years in the hospitality & event management sectors in the Gulf region & Europe. She holds an MBA from the American University in Switzerland and is certified in Train the Trainer, Event Management & Wedding Planning. Her professional experience has covered fields such as international enrolment and student recruitment in higher education, and Catering & Sales for five-star properties such as the Four Seasons in Milan, Marriott Hotel in Doha, and launched soft & grand opening Fairmont Hotel in UAE.