Karsten Petry has been Chief Marketing and Sales Officer of VfB Stuttgart 1893 AG since 1 July 2026. A qualified sports economist, he brings many years of experience in the sports business and is responsible for the strategic development of the VfB brand, as well as its marketing and sales activities.
Born in Mainz in 1975, the sports business expert has held a number of prominent positions throughout his career. From November 2021 until mid-2026, he served as Board Member for Marketing, Sales and Events at the Deutsche Sporthilfe foundation. During his tenure, he helped restructure the non-profit organisation supporting German elite sport and significantly strengthened its marketing activities. Prior to that, from 2017 to 2020, he was Managing Director for Germany at the global sports marketing agency Octagon and a member of its European leadership team. Earlier in his career, Karsten Petry held various senior positions at sports sponsorship agency akzio! — now part of Sportfive — including three years as Managing Director. He also oversaw Commerzbank AG’s sponsorship activities as Head of Corporate Sponsoring.
With his experience, extensive network and strategic vision, Karsten Petry aims to build on VfB Stuttgart’s strong regional identity and strengthen the brand’s national and international resonance. Together with partners, members and fans, he is committed to pursuing a clear strategy, embracing fresh ideas and sustainably expanding the economic and emotional strength of VfB Stuttgart.