59-year-old becomes first woman to lead a German top-flight club.

Tatjana Haenni

RB Leipzig have named Tatjana Haenni as their new CEO, effective January 1, 2026, completing the club’s long-term leadership reshuffle.

Haenni, a former Swiss international with extensive administrative experience at UEFA, FIFA and the Swiss FA, fills the vacancy left by Oliver Mintzlaff and will lead the management board alongside Johann Plenge, Florian Hopp and Marcel Schäfer.

Plenge will also assume the role of Deputy Chair, taking charge of federation and league relations—an area Leipzig considers increasingly strategic.

Supervisory Board Chair Mintzlaff praised Haenni’s “expertise, leadership strength and strategic thinking,” expressing confidence in her ability to drive the club’s next phase of growth.

Haenni said she looks forward to the challenge and highlighted the trust and appreciation shown during her hiring process.

Reports suggest she may also become the first female CEO of a German football club, though this has not been officially confirmed.

RB Leipzig, founded in 2009, have rapidly ascended in German football, winning two DFB-Pokal titles and reaching the 2020 Champions League semi-finals.