The Supervisory Board of Frankfurt based financial markets operator Deutsche Börse AG (ETR:DB1) has announced that Stephan Leithner has been appointed as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer. The 57-year-old will take up his new position on 1 October 2024, and initially lead Deutsche Börse as a Co-CEO together with Theodor Weimer until the end of the year. Theodor Weimer will then be 65 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 segment with ISS STOXX and SimCorp as well as the Group’s post-trading business with Clearstream. A decision on his succession will be made in due course.

From 2016 to 2018, Stephan Leithner served as a partner of EQT, a leading private equity company. Prior to this, he was with Deutsche Bank AG from 2000 to 2015, initially responsible for building up the capital markets and M&A business, 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 recognised expert in the capital markets to be CEO. He knows the global exchange landscape and understands the needs of our clients. In recent years, Stephan Leithner has played a significant role in the strategic development of the company. We are convinced that Stephan Leithner has all the prerequisites to continue Deutsche Börse’s successful development.”

Looking back on Theodor Weimer’s term of office, Martin Jetter said:

“In 2018, Theodor Weimer was faced with the challenge of leading Deutsche Börse out of a period of deep uncertainty. He and his team have accomplished this challenge with brilliance. The annualised growth in net revenue and EBITDA of 13 per cent during his term speaks for itself. Today, Deutsche Börse is once again a self-confident company that enjoys a high level of public trust. 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 on my new role. In recent years, we have successfully developed the business model and demonstrated the potential of this company and, in particular, its employees, who work in 56 locations around the world. The challenge now is to further realise this potential across the Group to shape the markets of the future.”

CEO Theodor Weimer said on the appointment of Stephan Leithner:

“This decision by the Supervisory Board makes me happy for Stephan Leithner and Deutsche Börse. Over the past few 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 develop successfully under Stephan Leithner’s leadership.”

About Deutsche Börse

As an international exchange organisation 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 organises safe and efficient markets for sustainable economies.

Its business areas cover the entire financial market transaction process chain. This includes the provision of indices, data, software, SaaS and analytical solutions as well as admission, trading and clearing. Additionally, it comprises services for funds, the settlement and custody of financial instruments as well as the management of collateral and liquidity. As a technology company, the Group develops state-of-the-art IT solutions and offers IT systems all over the world.

With more than 14,000 employees, the Group has its headquarters in the financial centre of Frankfurt/Rhine-Main, as well as a strong global presence in locations such as Luxembourg, Prague, Cork, London, Copenhagen, New York, Chicago, Hong Kong, Singapore, Beijing, Tokyo and Sydney.