Deutsche Bahn's CEO Richard Lutz was dismissed on August 15, 2025, amid ongoing crises and a loss of trust among customers and policymakers.

Lutz's departure marks a major leadership change, with the company lacking a clear successor and facing uncertain government strategies.

The appointment process for a new CEO is expected to be completed by September 22, and the new leader will need to manage complex stakeholder relationships and media scrutiny.

On September 22, the government plans to present a new strategic plan for Deutsche Bahn, focusing first on strategy before personnel changes.

Proposed reforms include increasing board expertise, reducing management size, and structural changes aimed at improving punctuality and customer satisfaction.

The search for Lutz's successor continues, with several railway experts rejecting initial offers; potential candidates include Andreas Matthä, Peter Füglistaler, Michael Peter, and Evelyn Palla.

Lutz's departure was a mutual agreement, with his contract ending early and a severance payment of €2.84 million, after initiating a modernization plan supported by federal funding.

Lutz had been working on a restructuring plan to improve the company's situation, but his time in office has run out amid persistent issues.

Lutz will remain in an executive role until a successor is appointed; he has been with Deutsche Bahn since 2010 and served as Chairman since 2017.

The company is described as a 'tankership' that has strayed from its course, highlighting years of mismanagement and underfunding that have made recovery difficult.

The broader context underscores political and managerial challenges, emphasizing the urgent need for effective leadership to restore confidence and implement reforms.

Patrick Schnieder, the new Transport Minister, aims to exert greater influence over Deutsche Bahn and will present a new strategy in late September, though finding a suitable CEO remains challenging.