Oliver Burkhard is focusing on his role as CEO of thyssenkrupp Marine Systems and is stepping down from his role as CHRO on the Executive Board of thyssenkrupp AG

At the request of Oliver Burkhard, the Supervisory Board of thyssenkrupp AG has decided by mutual agreement to terminate his mandate as a member of the Executive Board of thyssenkrupp AG as of January 31, 2025. This is due to the Group's efforts to spin off the Marine Systems segment and list it on the stock exchange. In addition to his role as Chief Human Resources Officer and Labor Director on the Executive Board of thyssenkrupp AG – including the thyssenkrupp Services division – based in Essen, Oliver Burkhard has also been Chief Executive Officer of thyssenkrupp Marine Systems GmbH in Kiel since May 1, 2022. From February 1, 2025, he will focus fully on this role and prepare the spin-off of thyssenkrupp Marine Systems as decided by the Executive Board of the AG.

Prof. Dr. Siegfried Russwurm, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of thyssenkrupp AG: “As a member of the Executive Board, Oliver Burkhard has played a key role in shaping the destiny of thyssenkrupp AG for more than a decade. As Chief Human Resources Officer and Labor Director, he has worked hard to balance the interests of various stakeholders, while at the same time using his considerable expertise to give the human resources function a strong voice. In addition, in his role as CEO at Marine Systems, he has led our naval shipbuilding business to economic stability and growth in recent years. The Supervisory Board would like to express its sincere thanks to Mr. Burkhard for his many years of service to thyssenkrupp AG and is pleased that he will remain with the company in such an important position as Chief Executive Officer of the Marine segment.”

Miguel López, Chief Executive Officer of thyssenkrupp AG: “The spin-off of Marine Systems is one of the most important strategic projects of thyssenkrupp AG and no one is better suited to drive the process forward than Oliver Burkhard. In this respect, his decision to focus entirely on the task of CEO at Marine Systems is to be welcomed – even though we regret his departure from the AG board. On behalf of the board of thyssenkrupp AG, I would like to thank Oliver Burkhard very much for the close and trusting cooperation and look forward to continuing our work in a new constellation.”

Oliver Burkhard: “The changed security policy environment is leading to increased demand in naval shipbuilding. Our order books are full, and we expect a continued high level of new orders. At the same time, the planned spin-off requires very intensive preparations at tkMS. Therefore, from February onwards, I will focus fully on my role as CEO of Marine Systems. I would like to thank the Supervisory Board for the swift and amicable termination of my Executive Board mandate and for our many years of trusting cooperation. I would also like to thank my colleagues on the board and, of course, the many employees with whom I have had the pleasure of working over the past twelve years.”

The Supervisory Board will decide in due course in an orderly process on the succession of Oliver Burkhard as Chief Human Resources Officer and Labor Director of thyssenkrupp AG. Jens Schulte, Chief Financial Officer, will take over responsibility for the Human Resources department on an interim basis.

thyssenkrupp is an international industrial and technology group with around 98,000 employees. In the fiscal year 2023/2024, the company generated sales of €35 billion in 47 countries. Its business activities are bundled in five segments: Automotive Technology, Decarbon Technologies, Materials Services, Steel Europe and Marine Systems. With extensive technology know-how, the businesses develop innovative solutions for the challenges of the future. Around 3,900 employees work in research and development worldwide. They are mainly focused on climate protection and the energy transition, the digital transformation in industry and the mobility of the future. The patent portfolio of thyssenkrupp currently includes approximately 16,900 patents and utility models. thyssenkrupp is pursuing ambitious climate protection targets and actively optimizing its own energy and climate efficiency. At the same time, the Group is supporting its customers with advanced products to help them achieve their climate targets, thus playing a key role in advancing the green transformation. As a publicly listed company, thyssenkrupp is part of the MDAX index. thyssenkrupp shares are traded on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: TKA) and as American depositary receipts (ticker symbol: TKAMY) in the USA.