Born in Biel/Bienne in 1960, Philippe Amez-Droz comes from La Chaux-de-Fonds/Le Locle. After earning a business diploma in Biel, he obtained his economics-track baccalaureate in Neuchâtel and went on to study Political Science at the University of Geneva. After completing his Master’s degree, he began a career in journalism, first at the Journal du Jura (renamed Journal de Bienne et du Grand Chasseral, JdJ, since June 2026), then at the Journal de Genève & Gazette de Lausanne in the Economy section, and finally at the newspaper La Suisse (foreign news desk, then Head of Geneva News).
His shift into communications began in 1989, when he succeeded Félix Teuber (founder of FTC) at the helm of Immo-Information, the communications body for Geneva’s real estate organizations, then affiliated with the Fédération des Syndicats patronaux (Federation of Employers’ Associations). In 1995, he was appointed to head the public relations department at Trimedia Communication following the departure of Félix Teuber, who went on to found FTC. After five years in the role -including heading European Public Affairs – Philippe Amez-Droz set up his own independent practice under the name Azconsulting, in Geneva.
Joining the Société Romande de Relations Publiques (SRRP) in 1990, where he served on its board, he played an active role in promoting and training PR professionals in French-speaking Switzerland, notably through Polycom in Lausanne. In 2007, he returned to university in Geneva and, in 2009, earned a Master’s degree in Communication and Media Sciences while continuing his independent consulting work. He was recruited in 2008 as a lecturer and scientific collaborator to help launch and oversee the new Master’s program in Journalism & Communication. As a doctoral candidate, he defended his thesis in Communication, Information and Media Sciences in 2013, specializing in media economics. His thesis, titled “La presse écrite à l’ère numérique” (“The Print Press in the Digital Age”), examined the impact of the 2008–2009 advertising crisis on the supply of news content in Switzerland and several other industrialized countries. It was published by Slatkine editions in 2015, and the same year a general-public edition appeared under the Le Savoir Suisse imprint, published by Presses Polytechniques et Universitaires Romandes.
Teaching Media Economics & Digital Cultures, Corporate Communication, Public Relations, and Storytelling & Branding for more than 15 years at the University of Geneva, Philippe Amez-Droz concluded his academic career in 2026 as a Senior Lecturer and Research Associate (Maître d’enseignement et de recherche). He continues to teach public relations at the CREA School. Now residing in Flanthey, in the canton of Valais, the region closest to his heart, he joined the FTC Communication team in August 2026 as Senior Consultant. He expresses deep gratitude and pays tribute to the memory of Félix Teuber, who did so much to promote public relations in French-speaking Switzerland and who inspired him time and again throughout his professional journey.
