In 1953, he entered the family concern known as Oerlikon-Bührle, initially becoming a project manager for factories in Egypt and India.

When his father died in 1956, Bührle took over the management of the company, which employed up to 37,000 people at the time and was the largest Swiss concern.

With his sister, Bührle co-founded IHAG Holding, which held all industrial participations of the family, including 42% of Oerlikon-Bührle.

He had intentions to study Art history, but for the majority of the career led the business for a mere of 37 years before ultimately retiring.

[2] Bührle developed strategies to expand the business from armament orders to the civil sector.