Webasto appoints Jörg Buchheim as new Chief Executive Officer
The contract of the previous CEO would have expired at the end of 2025. Dr. Engelmann has agreed with the Supervisory Board to step down earlier, as the implementation of the restructuring requires stability in the company's management.
Dr. Holger Engelmann and Jörg Buchheim © Webasto Group
Stockdorf – March 13, 2025 – In the course of the ongoing restructuring of the Webasto Group, the Supervisory Board and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Webasto SE until now, Dr. Holger Engelmann, have consensual agreed to refill the position of CEO with effect from March 17, 2025. The Supervisory Board has announced Jörg Buchheim as the new Chairman of the Management Board. Dr. Engelmann will leave the company on March 31, 2025.
By stepping down before his contract expires at the end of 2025, Dr. Engelmann is enabling a change in the CEO position at the right time in an important phase of the ongoing restructuring. Dr. Engelmann initiated the necessary restructuring of the company in 2024 and introduced and implemented appropriate measures to stabilize the company. The task now is to finalize the restructuring concept currently being developed and implement it successfully over the next few years. A key success factor for this is the timely appointment of a CEO with focus on personnel continuity, which has now been made possible with the appointment of Jörg Buchheim.
Jörg Buchheim: Expert for transformation projects in the automotive supplier industry
With Jörg Buchheim, Webasto is winning an experienced leader who is characterized by a clear strategic focus and entrepreneurial determination. The electrical engineer has a proven track record in the transformation and realignment of international automotive suppliers. As CEO China & Asia at Hella, he significantly expanded the business, optimized operations and strengthened the market position in the region. As Group CEO & President of Inalfa Roof Systems, Buchheim led the company out of a crisis that threatened its existence and put it back on course for growth. Most recently, he led Kongsberg Automotive as Group CEO and implemented a comprehensive transformation program that led to operational improvements, a strategic realignment and a significant increase in order intake.
By appointing Jörg Buchheim, the Supervisory Board and owners are sending a clear signal: Webasto is resolutely taking on the challenge and creating the basis for a successful transformation.
“I have been passionately committed to the automotive industry for 25 years. Webasto inspires me as a company rich in tradition with a long history – a heritage that is becoming increasingly rare in Germany,” explains Buchheim. “My goal is to lead Webasto successfully through the transformation with a clear strategic direction – in close cooperation with the employees, my colleagues on the Management Board, the Supervisory Board, the owners and all stakeholders.”
Webasto is at a turning point
Based on the optimization programme initiated at the beginning of 2024 and the restructuring initiated at the end of 2024 in view of the further deterioration in the general conditions in the automotive industry, the previous management created a stable basis for the necessary restructuring at an early stage.
In January 2025, restructuring expert Johann Stohner was appointed Chief Restructuring Officer (CRO) in close consultation between the Supervisory Board, Management Board, owners and banks. With his decades of experience in operational and financial restructuring, he has already achieved key milestones for Webasto.
Under the new leadership, Webasto will continue to expand and consistently implement the restructuring concept, stabilize the company financially and develop a long-term, sustainable growth strategy.
Change for personnel continuity in the restructuring process
The Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Webasto, Dr. Rolf Bulander, thanks Dr. Engelmann for his willingness to step down early in order to ensure long-term stability in the company's management to implement the restructuring he has initiated. “The Supervisory Board and the shareholders pay their great respect to Dr. Engelmann for the work he has done and his great commitment.”
Dr. Engelmann states: “Now is the right time to make this important decision, as the upcoming restructuring phase requires personnel continuity. I would like to thank the Supervisory Board, my Management Board team and all employees for their support and trusting cooperation over the past few years.”
