GERMANY: The current DB AG board member for Passenger Transport, Berthold Huber, has been selected as the next head of the group’s infrastructure business, following the departure of Ronald Pofalla at the end of April.
Huber’s appointment as board member Infrastructure was proposed by DB CEO Richard Lutz in March, and is expected to be ratified by the DB supervisory board on June 22. He is regarded as a proponent of maintaining DB as an integrated railway group, and the decision has reportedly been welcomed by the EVG trade union.
However, the current government has decided to restructure DB Netz as a non-profit company, as part of the coalition agreement reached last year. This process is to be overseen by a ‘commissioner’ appointed by the DB board. Local media report that the role is to be taken by Jörg Sandvoß, currently head of the regional passenger business DB Regio.
Michael Peterson, the current head of long-distance passenger operator DB Fernverkehr, is to succeed Huber as board member Passenger. Evelyn Palla, currently Chief Financial Officer at DB Fernverkehr, is expected to replace Sandvoß as CEO of DB Regio, and will also join the management board.
