The appointment of Dirk Rompf as the new head of DB InfraGO, the infrastructure division of Deutsche Bahn, has been abruptly halted following his decision to decline the position. Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder expressed regret over Rompf’s withdrawal, acknowledging his willingness to take on the challenging role. Schnieder stated he respects Rompf’s decision and will swiftly announce plans to address the resulting leadership vacuum.
Rompf, previously managing director of strategy consultancy Ifok and a long-standing board member of DB Netz AG, was only formally introduced as Philipp Nagl’s successor on Monday. His appointment, however, faced considerable opposition from employee representatives.
The EVG (transparency union) welcomed Rompf’s decision, with EVG chairman Martin Burkert stating that he had drawn the appropriate conclusion from recent discussions and that a fresh start is necessary for Deutsche Bahn, one that does not rely on previous approaches.
The union indicated a willingness to collaborate with Minister Schnieder, leveraging his agenda to strengthen the railway’s performance while also voicing areas for potential improvement. Discussions will focus on implementing these priorities and ensuring that the leadership structure at DB InfraGO genuinely reflects a commitment to a new beginning.
