The Supervisory Board of the Frankfurt-based financial markets company Deutsche Börse AG (ETR:DB1) has announced that Stephan Leithner has been appointed as the company’s new CEO. The 57-year-old will take up his new position on October 1, 2024 and will initially lead Deutsche Börse as Co-CEO together with Theodor Weimer until the end of the year. Theodor Weimer will then be 65 years old and resign from the Executive Board. His contract expires at the end of 2024.
Stephan Leithner has been a member of the Executive Board of Deutsche Börse AG since 2018, responsible for Pre- & Post-Trading. His current areas of responsibility include the strategically important Investment Management Solutions business with ISS STOXX and SimCorp as well as the Group’s post-trade activities with Clearstream. A decision on his succession will be made in due course.
From 2016 to 2018, Stephan Leithner served as a partner at EQT, a leading private equity firm. Prior to that, he was at Deutsche Bank AG from 2000 to 2015, initially responsible for the development of the capital markets and M&A businesses, and from 2012 as a member of the Executive Board. Before joining Deutsche Bank, he was a partner at McKinsey & Company. Stephan Leithner studied and obtained his PhD at the University of St. Gallen.
Martin Jetter, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Deutsche Börse AG, commented on the appointment of the new CEO:
“Stephan Leithner is a proven and recognized capital markets expert to be CEO. He knows the global trading landscape and understands the needs of our clients. In recent years, Stephan Leithner has played an important role in the strategic development of the company. We are convinced that Stephan Leithner has all the conditions to continue the successful development of Deutsche Börse.”
Reflecting on Theodor Weimer’s tenure, Martin Jetter said:
“In 2018, Theodor Weimer was faced with the challenge of leading Deutsche Börse through a period of deep uncertainty. He and his team have completed this challenge brilliantly. The 13 percent annual growth in net revenue and EBITDA during his tenure speaks for itself. Today, Deutsche Börse is once again a self-confident company that enjoys a high level of public confidence. I would like to thank Theodor Weimer for leading Deutsche Börse to new strength.”
Stephan Leithner commented on the Supervisory Board’s decision:
“I would like to thank the Supervisory Board for this vote of confidence and I am delighted to take up my new role. In recent years, we have successfully developed the business model and demonstrated the potential of this company and, in particular, of its employees, who work in 56 locations around the world. The challenge now is to further exploit this potential across the Group to shape the markets of the future.”
CEO Theodor Weimer said about the appointment of Stephan Leithner:
“This decision of the Supervisory Board makes me happy for Stephan Leithner and Deutsche Börse. In recent years, we have unanimously set the strategic course for Deutsche Börse and laid the foundations for future success. I am confident that Deutsche Börse will continue to grow successfully under the leadership of Stephan Leithner.”
About Deutsche Börse
As an international foreign exchange organization and innovative market infrastructure provider, Deutsche Börse Group ensures capital markets that are transparent, reliable and stable. With its wide range of products, services and technologies, the Group organizes safe and efficient markets for sustainable economies.
Its business sectors cover the entire chain of transaction processes in the financial market. This includes the provision of indices, data, software, SaaS and analytical solutions as well as listing, trading and clearing. In addition, it includes services for funds, settlement and custody of financial instruments as well as collateral and liquidity management. As a technology company, the Group develops cutting-edge technology solutions and offers IT systems worldwide.
With more than 14,000 employees, the Group is headquartered in the financial center of Frankfurt/Rhine-Main, as well as having a strong global presence in locations such as Luxembourg, Prague, Cork, London, Copenhagen, New York, Chicago, Hong Kong. , Singapore, Beijing, Tokyo and Sydney.