Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on September 24, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleMercedes-Benz appoints Joerg Burzer as CTO and Michael Schiebe to the board, aiming for cost efficiency and rejuvenation amid EV market challenges.
BERLIN (Reuters) -Mercedes-Benz announced changes to its top management on Wednesday, replacing chief technology officer Markus Schaefer with head of production Joerg Burzer, as it pursues cost efficiencies with a younger board.
Burzer, aged 55, will assume responsibility for development and procurement and take on the CTO role from the beginning of December together, the German company said in a statement.
Schaefer, who oversaw Mercedes' shift from traditional combustion-engine cars to electric models, will leave the company after 30 years.
Michael Schiebe, aged 42 and currently head of the high-performance division Mercedes AMG, will become management board member for production.
"With Joerg Burzer and Michael Schiebe, two outstanding managers from our own ranks are taking over key departments that are of decisive importance for the future success of the Mercedes-Benz Group," Mercedes supervisory board head Martin Brudermueller said.
The company said the appointments were part of a strategy pursuing "fresh impetus and a targeted rejuvenation of the board".
The changes come as Mercedes and its peers grapple with slowing electric-vehicle demand, intensifying competition in China and a broader push to cut costs amid a strategic pivot away from combustion engines.
(Reporting by Rachel More, editing by Thomas Seythal)
Joerg Burzer will take over the role of chief technology officer from Markus Schaefer starting in December.
Markus Schaefer oversaw Mercedes' transition from traditional combustion-engine cars to electric models.
Michael Schiebe, the new management board member for production, is 42 years old.
The changes are part of a strategy to bring fresh impetus and rejuvenate the board for the future success of the company.
Mercedes-Benz is grappling with slowing electric-vehicle demand, increasing competition in China, and a broader push to cut costs.
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