According to Coop's media office, Schwarz was riding e-bikes with Coop management on a family cycle path in the Morteratsch Glacier area. According to Susanne Sugimoto, Coop's press spokeswoman, investigations are still ongoing to determine whether the fall was medically related.

Hans Peter Schwarz, born in 1950, was Head of Finance and Accounting at Coop Switzerland and Deputy Director from April 1991-1998. From 1998, he was Head of Finance/Services and a member of the Executive Board of the Coop Cooperative.

Joos Sutter, Chairman of the Coop Executive Board, is taking over as Head of the Finance/Services Directorate "ad interim". He will be relieved of other duties during this phase.