GERMAN Rail (DB) has confirmed that the reorganisation of its senior management is now complete, with the appointment of three new members to the management board. They are:
- Karin Dohm, who has been appointed as DB’s new chief financial officer with effect from December 1, having held a similar position at home improvement retailer Hornbach Group for several years
- Harmen van Zijderveld, who has worked at DB for over 20 years and takes over board responsibility for regional passenger services on December 1, and
- Bernhard Osburg, former Thyssenkrupp Steel CEO, who becomes the new board member for freight, after the confirmation of his appointment as CEO of DB Cargo with effect from November 15.
The senior management reshuffle follows the appointment of new DB Group CEO, Evelyn Palla, in September, who replaced long-serving CEO, Dr Richard Lutz. He had fallen out of favour with the incoming Christian Democrat-led government earlier this year, following sustained criticism of DB’s poor financial and operational performance.
Lutz’s departure was followed by the dismissal on October 30 of DB Cargo CEO, Dr Sigrid Nikutta, after concerns over her ability to return DB’s freight subsidiary to profitability by next year. She will leave DB by the end of this year, but will hand over her responsibilities on November 15 to ensure a smooth transition.
“I am very much looking forward to working resolutely with the new management team to drive forward the relaunch of DB,” Palla says.
“With Karin Dohm, Harmen van Zijderveld and Bernhard Osburg, we are gaining experienced and responsible leaders who possess precisely the implementation skills and future-oriented approach that we need now.”
