Leadership Change at ZF: CEO Holger Klein And Peter Laier Step Down

Supplier Leadership Change at ZF: CEO Holger Klein And Peter Laier Step Down

2025-09-15 From Sven Prawitz | Translated by AI 1 min Reading Time

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The CEO of automotive supplier ZF, Holger Klein, is leaving the company. His rumored successor, Peter Laier, has also resigned.

ZF CEO Holger Klein (pictured) has resigned. So has Peter Laier, the board member responsible for the Commercial Vehicle division.(Source: ZF Group) — ZF CEO Holger Klein (pictured) has resigned. So has Peter Laier, the board member responsible for the Commercial Vehicle division.
(Source: ZF Group)

A major leadership shake-up at ZF Friedrichshafen (Germany): CEO Holger Klein, 55, and Peter Laier, 57, head of the commercial vehicle division, will step down from the Board of Management on September 30—just days after Klein made a strong appeal to Chancellor Merz at the IAA in Munich.

The ZF Supervisory Board has appointed Mathias Miedreich as a member of the Board of Management, effective January 1, 2025.(Source: ZF Friedrichshafen AG) — The ZF Supervisory Board has appointed Mathias Miedreich as a member of the Board of Management, effective January 1, 2025.
(Source: ZF Friedrichshafen AG)

According to ZF, Mathias Miedreich, 50, will become the new CEO. He joined ZF in January as head of the Electrified Powertrain Technologies division. The supervisory board praised his “decisiveness and communication skills” during the restructuring of the struggling powertrain segment.

Employee Representatives Dissatisfied With Holger Klein

Holger Klein had been with ZF for over ten years, three of them as CEO. He was tasked with steering the financially troubled supplier out of crisis. In the company’s official statement, Klein expressed confidence in the strategic path taken:
“Therefore, I believe this is the right time to hand over the CEO position.”

However, support for Klein among the workforce had recently dwindled. At the end of July, a large demonstration was held demanding an end to ongoing job cuts. Employee representatives viewed Klein’s approach as too defensive—they instead called for more investment in new products.

Differences Between Klein and Laier

Peter Laier mutually agreed to terminate his contract with ZF. As a board member, he led the "Commercial Vehicle Solutions" and "Industrial Technology" divisions.(Source: Kilian Bishop) — Peter Laier mutually agreed to terminate his contract with ZF. As a board member, he led the "Commercial Vehicle Solutions" and "Industrial Technology" divisions.
(Source: Kilian Bishop)

Peter Laier is stepping down due to “differing views on future strategic direction.” According to Manager Magazin, he was seen internally as a potential successor to Klein—and is said to have actively pursued this prospect. The report describes the relationship between the two managers as tense.

ZF says it will announce successors for the Board positions of Electrified Powertrain Technologies (previously held by Miedreich) and for the Commercial Vehicle and Industrial Technology Divisions (previously held by Laier) in due course.

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Date: 08.12.2025

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