Sebastian Schmitt takes over ZF Division E
Division E, which consolidates ZF’s conventional, hybrid and fully electric passenger car drivetrains, is experiencing its second leadership change this year. Mathias Miedreich had taken over the division in January as Executive Board member, but was appointed CEO in September.
Operational responsibility for the Electrified Drivetrain Technologies Division is now being handed over, as ZF has appointed Sebastian Schmitt as the new division head. Unlike Miedreich, Schmitt will not join the Executive Board. Miedreich continues to represent the drivetrain division on the board in strategic matters, while Schmitt will report directly to him and work closely with him.
The new head of Division E studied industrial engineering and has worked at ZF for almost two decades. He currently leads the Electrified Drivetrain Systems product line. His career has taken him to ZF’s Mexican site in Saltillo and as Managing Director at the transmission plant in Brandenburg, according to the company.
Schmitt’s exclusion from the board is justified by Miedreich’s aim for a “lean and powerful management organisation”. The Executive Board is being reduced from six to five members, with Miedreich holding the dual role of CEO and Division E board representative. The company describes this as a “clear indication of efficiency and focus”.
At the same time, ZF is setting up a Transformation Committee, a central steering body connecting key corporate areas – sales, materials management, production and strategy – directly with the board. “This team will take over the operational management of the group-wide performance program, the heart of the transformation,” the company said.
At the end of September, the Executive Board reached an agreement with employee representatives and the union on restructuring Division E. Up to 7,600 jobs in the division will be cut, while a previously considered sale of the division is currently off the table, and no sites will be closed. Nevertheless, the cuts are significant.
ZF’s crisis extends beyond the troubled drivetrain division. In September, not only former CEO Holger Klein, but also commercial vehicle board member Peter Laier left the company. A successor has now been found for Laier: Andreas Moser, previously head of ZF’s Industrial Technology Division, was appointed as Executive Board member for the Commercial Vehicle and Industrial Technology divisions and the India region, effective 1 November 2025. Laier had previously held these positions as well as responsibility for materials management and production.
“Our entire focus in the coming years will be on strengthening ZF’s operations, further increasing profitability and consistently expanding our financial stability,” emphasised Mathias Miedreich. “The new Transformation Committee stands for speed, clarity, and impact – with the clearly defined objective of supporting our customers through forward-looking technologies and reliable partnerships.”
This article was first published by Sebastian Schaal for electrive’s German edition.
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