A significant leadership overhaul is underway at Deutsche Bahn, Germany’s national railway company. Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder announced on Monday that Evelyn Palla will assume the role of CEO, succeeding Richard Lutz who recently departed. The announcement, confirming reports from earlier in the weekend, marks what Schnieder described as a “fresh start” for the organization, encompassing both content, structure and personnel.
Schnieder made the announcement while outlining key elements of a planned reform of Deutsche Bahn. As part of this broader restructuring, the infrastructure division, DB InfraGo, will also see a change in leadership. Dirk Rompf, previously a long-time board member of DB Netz AG and currently managing director of the strategy consultancy Ifok, is slated to replace current CEO Philipp Nagl. This appointment is still subject to approval from relevant committees.
Minister Schnieder emphasized that Palla emerged as the “best candidate” during the selection process. Having joined Deutsche Bahn in 2019, she has successfully led the Regio division since 2022, demonstrating a commitment to “successful customer orientation”. Her background includes prior experience with Austrian Railways (ÖBB) and energy company Eon.
The move signals a period of considerable change for Deutsche Bahn, with a concerted effort to reshape operations and leadership approaches.
