Railway reorganization commences

Deutsche Bahn: A New Era Awaits as Search for CEO Begins

Deutsche Bahn (Bahn), Germany's national railway company, is on the cusp of a significant transformation, with the search for a new CEO underway. Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder (CDU) announced this development on September 22, promising a new strategy for the railway giant.

Richard Lutz, the current CEO, will only continue to lead the company until a successor is found. Lutz, who has been with Deutsche Bahn since 1994, first as the CFO from 2010 to 2017, and then as CEO since the beginning of 2017, has been a stalwart of the company during challenging times.

The dilapidated infrastructure, operational issues, and economic difficulties have caused significant problems, with punctuality in long-distance traffic dropping from 78.5% in 2017 to 62.5% last year. There are no signs of significant improvements yet.

To address these deep-seated problems, Bahn has initiated a comprehensive renovation program. This program aims to modernize more than 40 heavily traveled routes by the mid-2030s, overhauling the infrastructure, operational situation, and economic difficulties.

The new federal government aims to restructure the supervisory board and the railway board, incorporating more specialist expertise and achieving a streamlining. Among the potential candidates for the new CEO are Anna-Theresa Korbutt, managing director of the Hamburg Transport Association (HVV), Jörg Kukies, the former federal finance minister, and Evelyn Palla, head of DB Regio.

The passenger association Pro Bahn prominently advocates for Anna-Theresa Korbutt due to her fresh perspective, management experience in public transport, and readiness to challenge existing structures within Deutsche Bahn. However, no definitive date for the announcement of the new CEO has been specified publicly.

The leadership transition process began immediately after Richard Lutz’s early departure was announced in mid-August 2025. The board chairman role is also subject to reorganization, aligned with the federal government’s plan to restructure the Supervisory Board and Executive Board to better reflect expertise and streamline governance, though the timing of this change remains unclear.

The strategy is largely complete, with only a few details still to be clarified. However, the exact date for the announcement of the new Deutsche Bahn CEO and the appointment of the board chairman has not been provided in the available information. The recent leadership shake-up signals an imminent and comprehensive strategy overhaul to address Deutsche Bahn’s operational and financial challenges, with government involvement indicating the process will be a high priority in the near term.

The next CEO will face significant challenges, including modernizing rail infrastructure, balancing profitability and public service, and restoring public trust amid ongoing criticism of delays and financial difficulties. The government aims to see fresh leadership with strong operational and political skills aligned with a revamped strategic direction.

Meanwhile, Green politician Matthias Gastel criticizes the departure of Bahn CEO Richard Lutz, stating that stronger control and steering by the federal government and more funding are needed. Economically, Deutsche Bahn is in a precarious position, posting losses for years. The financial planning of the current government could halt expansion and new construction projects, according to Gastel.

As the search for a new CEO continues, one thing is clear: Deutsche Bahn is at a critical juncture, and the choices made in the coming months will shape the future of Germany's national railway for years to come.