RB Leipzig Appoints Tatjana Haenni as New CEO as Club Expands Its Executive Leadership Structure.

Roger Hampel

Image: RB Leipzig

RB Leipzig has appointed Tatjana Haenni as its new Chief Executive Officer, with her tenure beginning on 1 January 2026. The announcement marks a significant restructuring of the club’s leadership model as Leipzig adapts to rising operational, regulatory and commercial demands in both domestic and international football.

Haenni will join a four-person management board alongside Johann Plenge (Business), Florian Hopp (Administration) and Marcel Schäfer (Sport), forming a consolidated executive group responsible for steering the next phase of the club’s organisational development. The appointment fills the CEO vacancy left after the departure of Oliver Mintzlaff and reflects Leipzig’s commitment to strengthening governance capacity during a period of expansion.

A Governance Model Designed for Scale and Complexity

RB Leipzig has recently expanded its office infrastructure and continues to invest in organisational processes, signalling a move toward a more mature leadership architecture. The decision to distribute strategic responsibilities among several board members aligns with broader trends across Bundesliga and European clubs, where multi-specialist executive structures are increasingly used to manage diversified business models.

As part of the new framework, Johann Plenge, 40, will assume an expanded remit as Deputy Chair of the Management Board. In addition to his business portfolio, he will oversee national and international federation and league relations — an area that has grown in strategic importance for clubs navigating regulatory frameworks, competition format changes and governance reforms at multiple levels.

Expectations for Haenni’s Leadership RB Leipzig

Supervisory Board chair Oliver Mintzlaff highlighted Haenni’s strategic experience and leadership profile as key factors behind the appointment. Leipzig expects her to bring structural momentum and fresh perspectives as the club adapts to increased operational and competitive demands.

Haenni expressed enthusiasm about joining Leipzig’s executive team and emphasised collaborative leadership across departments. Her appointment signals the club’s intention to strengthen internal coordination while maintaining continuity in its sporting and commercial pathways.