In his new function on the board, the 37-year-old will head up the sport, business strategy and communication departments. Jochen Röttgermann will remain in charge of marketing and sales, with Stefan Heim continuing to oversee finance, administration and operations. Hitzlsperger will officially begin his new role on 15 October 2019.
Dr. Bernd Gaiser, chairman of the VfB Stuttgart 1893 AG supervisory board:
“During a thorough selection process, Thomas Hitzlsperger emerged as the clear frontrunner for the role. He embodies all the qualities VfB need for sustainable and long-term success: his sporting expertise, decision-making, commitment to VfB and our ‘Junge Wilde’ philosophy, reliability and modern approach to leadership and business culture set him apart. Thomas Hitzlsperger is regarded very highly among our employees, at board level and among our members, fans, partners and sponsors.”
Thomas Hitzlsperger, soon-to-be VfB Stuttgart 1893 AG chairman:
“I’m very happy that the supervisory board has handed me the role of chairman and I’d like to thank them for the trust they have placed in me. Together with Stefan Heim and Jochen Röttgermann, I will set ambitious goals. We need to go about things in a confident yet humble manner and act with transparency. VfB does not need a fresh start at every level, but needs to focus more on its strengths and gather more momentum in certain areas. We have three main objectives: an immediate return to the Bundesliga, further development of our infrastructure – in particular the Mercedes-Benz Arena – and maintaining our strong financial position.”