HISTORY

The Journey from SwissHydro to LSH Consulting Engineers S.A.C

In 2004, “SwissHydro” was founded in Zurich, Switzerland, by four ex-Elektrowatt engineers led by the visionary Dr. Karl-Heinz Nagel, ex-member of the board of Elektrowatt, Fichtner and Lahmeyer International.

“SwissHydro” initially focused on the Chilean hydropower sector, leveraging the extensive experience of its founders. Driven by a passion for engineering, “SwissHydro” quickly established itself as a leading player in hydropower and underground works expanding its presence to Argentina, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and Peru.

Dr. Karl-Heinz Nagel is the fourth person from the left in the photograph taken at the inauguration of the 155 MW La Higuera Hydro Electric Power Plant in Chile on the 31st of October, 2006.
The four generations of LSH, from the left to right: Dr. Karl-Heinz Nagel, Dr. Nathalie C. McCaughey and her husband, Stephen N. McCaughey, Dr. Florian-Patrice Nagel and Dr. Nagel's grandson, Finn Patrick McCaughey.
The four generations of LSH, from the left to right: Dr. Karl-Heinz Nagel, Dr. Nathalie C. McCaughey and her husband, Stephen N. McCaughey, Dr. Florian-Patrice Nagel and Dr. Nagel's grandson, Finn Patrick McCaughey.

In 2010, a significant turning point took place when Dr. Karl-Heinz Nagel’s son, Dr. Florian-Patrice Nagel, assumed the role of General Manager. With a background in investment banking, Florian introduced “SwissHydro” into a new era. He recognized the need to bridge the gap between engineering and banking and introduced probabilistic risk assessments for major infrastructure projects to the portfolio of services. This period is also marked the beginning of a valuable partnership with Austria’s ILF, which has since become our primary partner in Latin America and Asia. To mark our commitment to Latin America our brand name “SwissHydro” changed to “Latin Swiss Hydro SAC” in 2012.

Florian’s successfull leadership continued until January 2018, when he embarked on a new journey in Asia. Following his departure, Dr. Nathalie C. McCaughey took the helm of the company. Under her guidance, LSH gained recognition as technical expert witnesses and forensic engineers, playing a crucial role in high-stakes international arbitration cases.

To reflect its evolving identity and expanded reach, “Latin Swiss Hydro SAC” officially rebranded in 2018, now proudly displaying the widely recognized acronym “LSH” in its official company name “LSH CONSULTING ENGINEERS SAC” .