December 11 – Tatjana Haenni will become the first female Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of a German Bundesliga club when she takes on the position at Red Bull Leipzig on January 1, 2026.
The former Switzerland international is an experienced football administrator, having held positions at both European governing body UEFA and world federation FIFA. She arrives from the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in the United States where she served as Sports Director.
“In our discussions, she impressed us and the committees with her expertise, as well as her combination of specialist knowledge, leadership strength and strategic thinking,” said Oliver Mintzlaff, chair of RB Leipzig’s supervisory board, in a club statement.
She will join the revamped management board with includes Chief Business Officer Johann Plenge, Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer Florian Hopp, and Managing Director for Sport Marcel Schäfer.
Leipzig currently sit in second place in the Bundesliga standings. The club have long endured a sullied reputation in the domestic sphere due to the involvement of Red Bull in the club’s ownership structure, which goes against the ‘50+1 rule’ that the majority of clubs abide by in Germany.
“I am very much looking forward to this new role. I am convinced that with strong teamwork and a focus on RB Leipzig’s strengths, we can tap into significant potential,” Haenni said.
“I can’t wait to get started in January and to get to know the club on a deeper level,” Haenni said. “Together, we want to continue on what is already a successful path and achieve our ambitious goals.”
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at [email protected]