Public Media and Legitimacy:

When Performance Is No Longer Enough

The Oxford & Cambridge Club of Geneva is pleased to invite its members to an Speaker High Tea and conversation with Gilles Marchand and Hugo Marchand, exploring the legitimacy of public service media at a moment of heightened public scrutiny and democratic choice.

On 8 March, Switzerland will vote on an initiative to reduce the household radio and television licence fee. Beyond its immediate political context, this debate raises wider and enduring questions: how do public institutions justify their role today, when efficiency and performance alone no longer suffice to secure public trust?

To examine these issues, we are honoured to welcome:

Gilles Marchand

Director of the Media & Philanthropy Initiative at the University of Geneva’s Geneva Centre for Philanthropy and founder of legitima, a consulting firm specialising in legitimacy issues. He previously served as Director General (CEO) of SRG SSR from 2017 to 2024, following leadership roles at Radio Télévision Suisse (RTS) (2010-2017) and Télévision Suisse Romande (TSR) (2001-2010). Trained as a sociologist at the University of Geneva, he will offer an insider’s perspective on public media governance, accountability, and public value.

Gilles Marchand | LinkedIn

Hugo Marchand

Senior strategy and communications consultant specialising in legitimacy, reputation management, and crisis communications. With experience advising national and multinational organisations in regulated environments, and academic training spanning strategic management (M.Sc., HEC Montréal), communication and politics (B.A., Université de Montréal), and law (B.A., Université of Geneva), he will bring a structured “legitimacy lens” to the discussion—grounded in data and analytical tools designed to move the debate beyond opinion.

Hugo Marchand | LinkedIn

The discussion will be followed by an exchange with participants in an informal High Tea setting, designed to encourage thoughtful and rigorous dialogue.

This invitation is also being extended to members of our partner clubs in Geneva, including Oxford & Cambridge Club Zurich, HEC Montréal / Asage, IMD, LSE, and the British Swiss Chamber of Commerce (BSCC).

Programme

15:00 — Guests arrival & welcome

15:20 — Opening remarks & speaker introduction

15:30 — Keynote: Public Media & Legitimacy, followed by Q&A

16:00 — Signature High Tea

17:50 — Closing remarks

18:00 — Carriages

Date & Venue

Sunday, 22 February 202615:00–18:00 Salon Parquet, Hôtel d’Angleterre, Geneva

Practical Information

• Places are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis

• Please register by Monday, 19 February 2026 (end of day)

• Once the 30-person limit is reached, additional registrations will be placed on a waiting list

• Tickets are transferable but non-refundable

• Dress code: Smart-casual chic 

For further information, please contact: 

Ludovic Claude — ludo.claude@gmail.com