User:Designedge/Ursfelber

Urs Felber, (born July 10 1942, died April 26 2010) was a Swiss industrialist, philantropist and design pioneer.

Life and career
Born in 1962 in Egerkingen, Switzerland, a small town in the canton of Solothurn. His family has been running a local carpentry workshop. After Felber finished school at the Eidgenossische Technische Hoschule, he joined the Swiss Army as officer. From 1962 to 1965, he studied mechanical engineering at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich. In 1964, he replaces a fellow student in his field study at a small furniture manufacturer De Sede. In 1966, he enters De Sede as system engineer. With modest resources, he manages to take a 50 percent stake in the company, and turns it in less than ten years from a local manufacturer to a world leader in high end leather furniture. By 1978, De Sede exports in over 70 countries and reaches a turnover of 85 million CHF. At age 36, Felber sells De Sede and moves to Monaco. In 1979, he pursues his academic interests with a PHD in Design Management at Stanford University, California and the University of Fribourg, Switzerland, and graduates with Magma Cum Laude. In he 80s he becomes business partner and Ceo of Vitra USA, the world leading furniture manufacturing firm. Parallel to his US activities he becomes board director in several large companies such as Wilkhahn International, Wilkhahn Switzerland, Swissflex and Team by Wellis. In 2001, Urs Felber buys historical Swiss furniture manufacturer Dietiker AG from the supermarket chain Migros and transforms it into a widely recognized brand, with products winning the Red Dot Design Award and Neocon Innovation Award, and the leader in Switzerland and Europe in the contract furniture market.

Philanthropy
Urs Felber was a philantropist and supported many institutions and individuals. He was a major benefactor to israeli institutions including the Tel Aviv Museum of Art and the University of Tel Aviv. In 1999, he becomes a Honorary Fellow of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art in recognition to his involvement and commitment. On 20 May 2003, the Aviva and Urs Felber Jubilee Plaza is inaugurated at Tel Aviv University in recognition for his donation to the university. . He was also a supporter of the Polish Church.

Awards
In 2002, Urs Felber is awarded Doctor Honoris Causa by the University of Tel Aviv for his cultural engagement and contribution to education in Israel.

Death
On the 26th of April 2010, Urs Felber dies of cardiac arrest following a metabolic acidosis at the Hopital de Monaco, Monte-Carlo. He is buried in his hometown Egerkingen.

Quotes
"Success is Never Accidental"

"I m Swiss but not practicing"