The restructuring sweeping through Deutsche Bahn continues to accelerate, with a flurry of personnel decisions signaling a radical shift in strategy under new CEO Evelyn Palla. Reports indicate the Personnel Committee has greenlit two key appointments, paving the way for a significant overhaul of the struggling national rail operator.
Karin Dohm, formerly of Hornbach and most recently in a brief stint as CFO at automotive supplier Continental, is poised to become the new Finance Board Member. Her rapid departure from Continental after only eight weeks raises questions about her suitability and the potential for similar instability at Deutsche Bahn, particularly as the company grapples with deep-seated financial woes. The appointment, while seemingly expedient, could be interpreted as a symptom of the challenges in attracting experienced leadership willing to undertake such a demanding role.
Further solidifying Palla’s commitment to a complete overhaul, Harmen van Zijderveld, the current regional manager responsible for rail operations, is slated to become the new Board Member for DB Regio, effectively succeeding Palla in that role. This moves suggests a deliberate strategy of placing trusted lieutenants in positions of authority.
However, the most politically charged development centers around the impending departure of DB Cargo CEO Sigrid Nikutta. A scathing assessment from consultancy firm Oliver Wyman has reportedly deemed Nikutta’s restructuring plan “objectively unsuitable” for rescuing the struggling freight transport division. This verdict, coupled with declining support within key company bodies and a public call for her dismissal from the railway and transport union EVG, appears to have sealed her fate. The possibility of appointing an external “Chief Restructuring Officer” (CRO), as recommended by Oliver Wyman, remains under consideration, signaling a potential acknowledgment of the limitations of internal expertise.
These rapid succession of changes underlines CEO Palla’s ambitious pledge to “turn the company on its head” and implement a “complete new beginning”. While this promises significant shifts in direction, critics are raising concerns about the potential for instability and disruption stemming from the abrupt departures and the reliance on seemingly short-term solutions. The appointment of Dohm, in particular, is being scrutinized for its potential to exacerbate existing challenges rather than resolve them and the political landscape surrounding Nikutta’s dismissal points to a deeply fractured organization requiring more than just personnel changes to achieve a sustainable recovery. The upcoming meeting of the DB Supervisory Board on October 30th, where these appointments must be formally confirmed, promises to be a critical juncture for the future direction of Deutsche Bahn.
