As ETL GLOBAL celebrates 10 years of empowering SMEs, the spotlight turns to the people who have contributed to its international growth. In this interview, Dominik Baldegger, Partner at cmt in Switzerland, looks back at the firm’s early involvement with ETL, the value of long-term collaboration, and how cmt continues to support clients in a cross-border environment.
cmt: A Long-Standing Firm in Eastern Switzerland
In the small town of Appenzell, surrounded by Alpine hills and quiet streets, sits cmt, a local tax, audit and accounting firm that has been supporting clients throughout eastern Switzerland for over two decades. While the setting is calm and rural, the firm’s perspective is far from narrow. Over the past 10 years, cmt has developed strong international connections through its early involvement in ETL GLOBAL, and today plays a key role supporting clients with cross-border activities in and from Switzerland.
First Steps into International Collaboration
“It all started with a phone call,” recalls Dominik Baldegger, partner at cmt. Back in 2012, ETL reached out with a question: “You’re constantly working in Germany, wouldn’t it make sense to be part of an international network?” He still remembers that they felt a bit overwhelmed by the proposal, but also curious and excited. At the time, cmt was already working regularly with clients across borders, and the prospect of being part of a wider structure felt like a good idea. That same year, they became one of the first foreign professional service firms to start an ongoing cooperation with the German ETL Group, i.e. as part of the nucleus of what nowadays is the ETL GLOBAL Network.
Shortly after, cmt took the lead and hosted an international ETL meeting in Appenzell, a key event for the firm and their first opportunity to welcome a group of foreign colleagues to their hometown. After a day of meetings and discussions, they invited the group to a traditional Swiss fondue restaurant for a chance to slow down and to offer their guests a glimpse of the local culture.
Dominik still recalls how, during the dinner, a colleague from the UK surprised them by speaking perfect Swiss German, as she stood up to show how to eat fondue the proper Swiss way: “First, you take a piece of bread. Then you dip it into the Kirsch. After that, you swirl it in the cheese and then you eat it,” she explained. The group followed her lead with interest, and the evening became a highlight of the event, which they still remember with a smile. Moments like that have continued over the years in different places, with different colleagues, gradually building the trust and familiarity that now define their way of working across the network.
Expansion, People, and New Ground
cmt operates in a country where many businesses work internationally, so having reliable contacts abroad is part of their everyday work. “Many of our clients are exporters,” Dominik explains. “It helps to have someone on the ground who understands the local rules in customs, VAT, company set-up. With ETL GLOBAL, we can offer that.”
Their involvement in ETL’s international activities began at a time when the group was still largely focused on Germany but beginning to expand its international presence. cmt saw the potential early on and chose to be part of that process. “We decided to show up,” Dominik says. They began attending every international conference, and by the time ETL GLOBAL launched officially, cmt was already well integrated into the group’s international network.
As their international cooperation intensified, their presence within Switzerland also evolved. What began as a single office in Appenzell gradually expanded to meet growing client needs. They later opened a second location in Altenrhein, based at the People’s Business Airport, which provided a strategic link for cross-border activity. Now, by the start of August 2025, a third office will open in St. Gallen, right in the city center. The team has already held their first meeting on site, the space is ready, and the move is just around the corner. As they described it, “The anticipation is huge.”
The firm’s leadership has evolved as well. In January 2024, Claudia Grob joined the management team. She had been part of the company since 2008 and became a certified trust expert during that time. She now leads the trust department. That same year, Ronito Kunz took charge of the audit division, bringing public accounting expertise and experience from a Big Four firm. Along with Josef Manser, who oversees finance and HR, and Dominik Baldegger, responsible for marketing and IT, they form a team that combines experience with fresh energy.
Claudia Grob, newly appointed to the management team, together with Dominik Baldegger and Josef Manser.
A Shared Direction for the Future
As they look ahead, cmt sees their connection with ETL GLOBAL as a natural continuation of their work. The relationships built over the years have become a dependable resource for their clients and an established part of the firm’s daily operations.
That ongoing exchange remains relevant as the firm continues to grow, both in Switzerland and through its international work. As Dominik puts it, “The longer the journey, the better the taste!”
A look back at cmt
