ZF Friedrichshafen AG has announced a major leadership transition. At a special meeting, the Supervisory Board and current CEO Dr. Holger Klein agreed to mutually end his contract, with his tenure concluding on September 30, 2025.
Mathias Miedreich, currently serving as Head of the Electrified Powertrain Technology division and a Board member since January 2025, has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Board of Management (CEO).
Additionally, Prof. Dr. Peter Laier will also step down from the Board of Management, following a mutual agreement with the Supervisory Board.
Supervisory Board Chairman Dr. Rolf Breidenbach expressed his gratitude to the CEO: “I would like to thank Dr. Holger Klein for his tireless commitment to ZF for over more than ten years, but especially for the last nearly three years as CEO. With his strategy, he laid the foundations for ZF’s turnaround and has already achieved significant success with the entire team. We must now build on what’s been achieved and continue with the strategy we’ve embarked upon.” Looking ahead, he continued: “In Mathias Miedreich we’ve found an internal successor who not only has indepth experience in the industry – including in a CEO position – but with a combination of decisiveness and communication skills, who has also significantly advanced the restructuring of Division E since joining the ZF Board of Management. We wish him every success in his new role.”
Simon Blümcke, Mayor of Friedrichshafen and Chairman of the Zeppelin Foundation, said: “On behalf of the owner representatives, I would like to thank Dr. Holger Klein for his commitment and close cooperation with the Supervisory Board. In challenging times, he stabilized ZF economically, steered it onto a new course, and laid the foundation for a successful future.”
Dr. Holger Klein, who held various management positions at ZF since 2014 before taking over as CEO of ZF on January 1, 2023, said: “Together with the Executive Board team and all ZF employees, we’ve already made great progress in turning ZF around. Our ‘Strengthening our Strengths’ strategy is showing initial success, the performance programs are working, profitability and cash flow are rising again, and, together with the Supervisory Board, we’ve decided on important courses of action for restructuring and for the future. I’m deeply convinced that we are on the right track to making ZF successful again as well as securing jobs. Now it’s critical that we quickly make implementation decisions together with the employee representatives, because ZF can’t afford to waste any more time. That’s why I believe that now is the right time to hand over the chairmanship of the Board of Management.”
Prof. Dr. Peter Laier will leave the Board of Management of ZF Friedrichshafen AG on September 30, 2025, following a mutual agreement with the Supervisory Board due to differing views on the company’s future strategic direction.
Serving since January 2023, Laier oversaw Commercial Vehicle Solutions, Industrial Technology, Production and Materials Management, and the India region. The Supervisory Board and shareholders expressed deep regret over his departure and appreciation for his contributions.
“In recent years, we’ve been able to significantly enhance and internationalize the Commercial Vehicles Solutions and Industrial Technology divisions and greatly intensify global customer relationships. The divisions I am responsible for, as well as the Materials Management and Production departments and the India region, are very well positioned for the future,” says Prof. Dr. Laier.
Simon Blümcke, Chairman of the Zeppelin Foundation and Mayor of the City of Friedrichshafen, and Dr. Rolf Breidenbach, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of ZF Friedrichshafen AG, would like to express their sincere thanks to Prof. Dr. Laier for his outstanding work with the company and his significant contributions to the realignment of the ZF Group. They wish him all the best for the future.
ZF will provide information on the succession of the Board positions for the Electrified Powertrain Technology division and for the Commercial Vehicle Solutions and Industrial Technology divisions in due course.
