Carl Elsener, “senior leader” of Victorinox, passed away at the age of 90. He had been lately the chairman of the company, founded by his family in 1884. He worked for the company behind the well-known Swiss army knife over a period of more than 70 years. Elsener was born in Ibach, where Victorinox is still based. Early on, he dedicated himself wholeheartedly to the knife factory. He became head of the company in 1950, following the death of his father. He led Victorinox starting with 80 workers and building up the staff to the current level of more than 1,850 employees. Victorinox remains a family company with the Elsener family directly owning 10 percent of the shares. Foundations related to Victorinox own the other 90 percent.

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