After completing an apprenticeship as a laboratory technician, Mr Brenneis obtained his higher education entrance qualification. He went on to successfully complete a degree in economics and business administration (lic. rer. pol.) at the University of Basel. After this he was employed in the Pharmaceuticals Division of Sandoz AG, Basel, as Head of Research Planning and later on as Managing Director of an affiliated company in Austria. This was followed by an appointment as Managing Director of a Swiss-based company in the plastics and metal-working industry. Subsequently Mr Brenneis performed various executive functions at F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, most recently as Head of Infrastructure and Services. Mr Brenneis has many years of experience in the areas of controlling and reporting, restructuring, and process and project management. Alongside his executive functions, Mr Brenneis was a member of various pension fund investment committees. Today, Mr Brenneis is Managing Director of itag Portfolio Management Ltd, and thereby in charge of the firm's portfolio management business.