German automotive supplier ZF has appointed Sebastian Schmitt as head of its Electrified Drivetrain Technologies Division (E), marking the division’s second leadership change this year. Schmitt previously led the company’s Electrified Drivetrain Systems product line and will report directly to CEO Mathias Miedreich, who continues to represent the division at the Executive Board level.
Miedreich had assumed leadership of Division E in January 2025 before being named CEO in September. Unlike his predecessor, Schmitt will not join the Executive Board. “Our goal is a lean and powerful management organisation,” said Miedreich, adding that the board will be reduced from six to five members. “This is a clear indication of efficiency and focus.”
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Schmitt, who holds a degree in industrial engineering, has been with ZF for nearly two decades. His previous roles include Managing Director of the company’s transmission plant in Brandenburg and assignments at ZF’s Saltillo site in Mexico. He is now taking operational responsibility for a division that consolidates ZF’s conventional, hybrid, and fully electric drivetrains.
As part of its broader restructuring, ZF is establishing a Transformation Committee that will connect key areas — including 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 in a statement.
The appointment comes amid ongoing restructuring efforts within Division E, where up to 7,600 jobs are set to be cut following an agreement reached with employee representatives and unions in late September. Despite the job reductions, ZF said no sites will be closed and a potential sale of the division is “off the table.”
Miedreich underscored ZF’s focus on operational stability and financial performance as it navigates a challenging transition. “Our entire focus in the coming years will be on strengthening ZF’s operations, further increasing profitability and consistently expanding our financial stability,” he said. “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.”
ZF Names Mathias Miedreich as CEO Amid Restructuring, Klein and Laier to Depart