The Winterthur city parliament has appointed a new data protection officer. Lawyer Tobias Naef is moving from his position as deputy head of the legal department at the cantonal data protection office and will take up the post on October 1, 2024.
On August 26, 2024, the city parliament of Winterthur elected Tobias Naef as data protection officer for a term of four years, after his predecessor resigned early from office in March 2024 for personal reasons. As “The Landbote” reported that more than 15 applications were received for the vacant position.
Naef is a lawyer and is now moving from his position as deputy head of the legal department at the cantonal data protection office to the city of Winterthur. The position will begin on October 1, 2024, according to the Winterthur city parliament.
Christian Griesser (Greens), president of the search committee, particularly highlights Naef’s “communicative talent” and stresses that communication is important in this job, as “Der Landbote” continues. “You have to be able to explain to the offices and authorities why certain measures are needed. And you have to do this in understandable language,” says Griesser.
After the election, Naef took the opportunity to demonstrate his communication skills in a short speech, it continues. Due to increasing digitalization, data protection has become “even more important” in recent years. More data is being collected, stored in the cloud, exchanged, and more is being monitored. “This office is central to ensuring that everything is done legally,” explains Naef.
The canton of Basel-Stadt also has a new data protection officer. Danielle Kaufmann took up her new post in August 2024, replacing Beat Rudin. Read more here.
