Born in 1981, Rachel Salzmann studied history, media and communication sciences at the University of Bern, graduating in 2007. She holds an executive master’s of business administration with a specialisation in public management from the Bern University of Applied Sciences. Rachel Salzmann worked at DETEC from 2012 to 2018, the last four years as a personal assistant to former Federal Councillor Doris Leuthard. She then moved to Credit Suisse Energy Infrastructure Partners AG as head of public and regulatory affairs. Before joining the Federal Chancellery, she headed the CEO staff office at CSS Group, a Swiss health insurance company
In the role of vice chancellor since 1 July 2024, Rachel Salzmann heads the Federal Council sector. There she shares overall responsibility – in coordination with the federal chancellor and the federal council spokesperson – for ensuring that preparations for Federal Council meetings and follow-up tasks are completed in a timely manner and to the requisite standard. She also manages seven units with a total staff of around 130, including the sections responsible for the Federal Chancellery’s language services, official publications and legislation.
The resident of Bern is married and has a son. She is a member of The Centre political party.