Stadler has announced planned changes to its Board of Directors, to be put to shareholders at the company’s Annual General Meeting on 5 May 2026 in Zurich.
After more than a decade of service, Christoph Franz and Wojciech Kostrzewa will not stand for re-election. Stadler has proposed two new candidates to join the Board: mobility and industrial leader Sabrina Soussan and Airbus Defence and Space CEO Michael Schöllhorn.
Both departing directors are credited with playing a significant role in Stadler’s international growth. Christoph Franz joined the Board in 2011, bringing senior leadership experience from Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines and Deutsche Bahn. His global transport expertise and strategic insight supported Stadler’s international orientation and innovation agenda.
Wojciech Kostrzewa, who joined the Board in 2012, contributed deep experience in finance, media and public policy. His knowledge of the Polish market was particularly influential in supporting Stadler’s expansion and long-term investment in Poland, alongside strengthening the company’s financial development.
Chairman Peter Spuhler thanked both for their long-standing commitment, noting their decisive contribution to Stadler’s success and wishing them well in their future endeavours.
To succeed them, Stadler is proposing two internationally experienced executives with strong backgrounds in complex project delivery and mobility.
Sabrina Soussan brings extensive rail and industrial expertise following a long career at Siemens, where she held senior roles including CEO of the Rail Vehicles business and Co-CEO of Siemens Mobility. She later served as CEO and Chair of Suez, leading large-scale infrastructure and environmental projects. Currently a member of Henkel’s Shareholders’ Committee and the Supervisory Board of Continental AG, she is also set to become Chair of Continental’s Supervisory Board in 2026. Stadler said her experience will further strengthen the company’s innovation capability and competitiveness.
Michael Schöllhorn has been CEO of Airbus Defence and Space since 2021 and offers deep experience in international project and manufacturing environments. Previously, he served as COO and Executive Board member at BSH Home Appliances, overseeing global production and quality. With a background in mechanical and control engineering, Schöllhorn is expected to bring strong strategic and operational insight to Stadler’s Board.
Peter Spuhler said the proposed appointments continue the generational renewal of the Board and will support Stadler’s long-term ambition. He added that both candidates’ international profiles and leadership experience would help strengthen the company’s global market position and innovation performance.
Shareholders will vote on the new Board composition at the AGM on 5 May 2026.
