Our Founders

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2 aigles royaux survolant une vallée alpine dans une lumière grisâtre hivernale.

Our Founders

A cause in need of preservation

Awareness, support, action

The Alps are the continent’s largest continuous ecosystem. Located in several developed and interconnected nations, this living mineral massif is subject to countless pressures. The Alpine Eagle Foundation’s motto is “Preserving the Alps”, an explicit, broad and philanthropic goal. It was founded in 2019 by Chopard Co-President Karl-Friedrich Scheufele along with a number of experts and devotees of the Alps such as falconer Jacques-Olivier Travers (creator of the Aigles du Léman park) and Ronald Menzel (Managing Director of the Freedom Conservation NGO campaigning to protect birds of prey). In addition to the original project, which focused on reintroducing the golden eagle into its natural habitat, broader objectives will be pursued, aimed at raising awareness, mobilising support and taking action on behalf of the entire Alpine massif and the life it supports.

Karl-Friedrich
Scheufele

Co-President, Chopard

Appointed Co-President of Chopard in 2001, Karl-Friedrich Scheufele heads its Watchmaking division and has successfully equipped the Chopard group with independent watchmaking workshops of the highest order. Along with his sister Caroline, in 2018 he announced Chopard’s commitment to using 100% ethical gold for the production of all its watches and jewellery. A keen philanthropist, he has been involved in activities to protect the Alps and their native eagles since 2019, deciding to create the Alpine Eagle Foundation, of which he is co-founder, in 2021.

Karl-Friedrich
Scheufele

Co-President, Chopard

Appointed Co-President of Chopard in 2001, Karl-Friedrich Scheufele heads its Watchmaking division and has successfully equipped the Chopard group with independent watchmaking workshops of the highest order. Along with his sister Caroline, in 2018 he announced Chopard’s commitment to using 100% ethical gold for the production of all its watches and jewellery. A keen philanthropist, he has been involved in activities to protect the Alps and their native eagles since 2019, deciding to create the Alpine Eagle Foundation, of which he is co-founder, in 2021.

JACQUES-Olivier
Travers

The man who flies with eagles

 Jacques-Olivier spent his childhood surrounded by birds. While studying journalism, he worked at Villars les Dombes, the largest bird park in France, and at the age of 24, decided to create his own wildlifepark dedicated to raptors, Les Aigles du Léman. Currently, around 220 raptors from 80 species are housed in the park, which is one of the largest collections in the world.

Jacques-Olivier
Travers

The man who flies with eagles

 Jacques-Olivier spent his childhood surrounded by birds. While studying journalism, he worked at Villars les Dombes, the largest bird park in France, and at the age of 24, decided to create his own wildlifepark dedicated to raptors, Les Aigles du Léman. Currently, around 220 raptors from 80 species are housed in the park, which is one of the largest collections in the world.

Ronald
Menzel

Co-founder of Dreamscape Immersive

Serial entrepreneur, activist and Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Dreamscape Immersive Ronald Menzel is the founder and Managing Director of Freedom Conservation – a movement that seeks to protect threatened birds of prey through creative conservation methods. By creating this unique and compelling approach, FREEDOM seeks to engage a new generation of conservationists, catalysing popular support for the protection of nature worldwide.

Ronald
Menzel

Co-founder of Dreamscape Immersive

Serial entrepreneur, activist and Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Dreamscape Immersive Ronald Menzel is the founder and Managing Director of Freedom Conservation – a movement that seeks to protect threatened birds of prey through creative conservation methods. By creating this unique and compelling approach, FREEDOM seeks to engage a new generation of conservationists, catalysing popular support for the protection of nature worldwide.

Black and white portrait of Karl-Friedrich Scheufele. in a 3-piece suit and striped shirt.
Karl-Friedrich
Scheufele

Co-President, Chopard

Appointed Co-President of Chopard in 2001, Karl-Friedrich Scheufele heads its Watchmaking division and has successfully equipped the Chopard group with independent watchmaking workshops of the highest order. Along with his sister Caroline, in 2018 he announced Chopard’s commitment to using 100% ethical gold for the production of all its watches and jewellery. A keen philanthropist, he has been involved in activities to protect the Alps and their native eagles since 2019, deciding to create the Alpine Eagle Foundation, of which he is co-founder, in 2021.

Black and white portrait of Jacques-Olivier Travers alongside an eagle.
Jacques-Olivier
Travers

The man who flies with eagles

Jacques-Olivier spent his childhood surrounded by birds. While studying journalism, he worked at Villars les Dombes, the largest bird park in France, and at the age of 24, decided to create his own wildlifepark dedicated to raptors, Les Aigles du Léman. Currently, around 220 raptors from 80 species are housed in the park, which is one of the largest collections in the world.

Black and white portrait of Ronald Menzel, wearing a striped shirt.
Ronald
Menzel

Co-founder of Dreamscape Immersive

Serial entrepreneur, activist and Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Dreamscape Immersive Ronald Menzel is the founder and Managing Director of Freedom Conservation – a movement that seeks to protect threatened birds of prey through creative conservation methods. By creating this unique and compelling approach, FREEDOM seeks to engage a new generation of conservationists, catalysing popular support for the protection of nature worldwide.

Support us

Help us to help the Alps and all its magnificent biodiversity by making a donation today.