Vaudoise Assurances and the Omega European Masters: Twelve Years of Trust, and Counting

As one of the main sponsor of the Omega European Masters since 2014, Vaudoise Assurances is renewing its commitment to the tournament. After twelve years of collaboration, this new chapter extends a relationship built on trust, shared values and a common desire to bring to life an event whose reach extends far beyond Crans-Montana. Jean-Daniel Laffely, CEO of the Vaudoise Assurances Group, reflects on what lies behind this long-standing partnership.

What makes a company renew a sporting partnership after twelve years? For Jean-Daniel Laffely, the answer begins with the strength of the event itself. The Omega European Masters brings together many of the qualities that matter to Vaudoise Assurances: a tournament with an established place in the Swiss sporting landscape, high standards of organisation and an exceptional setting.

But beyond these tangible qualities, there is something that cannot always be measured: memories.

Over twelve editions, Jean-Daniel Laffely has collected his fair share of them. One that stands out is the 2024 final, when Matt Wallace and Alfredo Garcia-Heredia had to settle the title in a play-off on the 18th hole. It was a spectacular finish that has remained in the memory.

The 2026 edition delivered its own share of drama as well. Thriston Lawrence and Paul Casey went head-to-head in a play-off, with no fewer than four trips down the 18th hole needed to separate them. With this victory, his third at Crans-Montana, the South African joined the tournament’s history books.

These moments also illustrate what makes the Omega European Masters so valuable to its partners: the visibility comes with a genuine experience and the ability to create lasting memories.

Every year, the tournament attracts spectators from across Switzerland and abroad, generating exposure that reaches well beyond Valais. This is particularly valuable for Vaudoise Assurances, offering an opportunity to strengthen its presence in German-speaking Switzerland.

But beyond visibility, the Omega European Masters is above all a platform for building and nurturing relationships. It gives Vaudoise Assurances the opportunity to welcome clients in a unique setting, create closer connections and offer memorable experiences, going far beyond simply being seen.

The partnership is therefore about much more than brand image. Over the years, the teams at Vaudoise Assurances and the Omega European Masters have got to know each other, worked closely together and built a relationship based on trust.

“After twelve years, we are no longer simply talking about a contract being renewed from one year to the next. There is a genuine mutual understanding and a strong sense of trust between the teams,” says Jean-Daniel Laffely.

This long-standing commitment is also rooted in a balance that the tournament has successfully maintained. Despite its international stature and the regular presence of some of the world’s best players, the Omega European Masters remains deeply connected to Crans-Montana and its surroundings.

For Vaudoise Assurances, the ability to evolve without losing its identity is one of the tournament’s greatest strengths. The event continues to grow and meet the demands of international sport, while preserving what makes it unique: its history, its setting and its strong local roots.

Sustainability is also part of this vision. The initiatives introduced by the tournament to make its organisation more sustainable align closely with Vaudoise Assurances’ own priorities, particularly in a natural environment where these issues take on a special significance.

After twelve years, Vaudoise Assurances’ renewed commitment is therefore much more than a simple extension. It is a reflection of a relationship that has had time to grow, mature and find its balance.

The trust is there, the values remain shared and the ambition is unchanged: to support the Omega European Masters as it continues to evolve, while preserving the qualities that have made it unique in Crans-Montana for decades.

Twelve years after the beginning of their shared journey, Vaudoise Assurances and the Omega European Masters are writing the next chapter of their story with a simple conviction: the partnerships that stand the test of time are those that continue to have meaning.