How is Siemens Celebrating a 'Successful CFO Era'?

Siemens AG has confirmed a further phase in its long-term succession planning, announcing that Chief Financial Officer Prof. Dr. Ralf P. Thomas will step down from the Managing Board on 13 May 2026. 

Veronika Bienert, currently a member of the company’s Managing Board, will assume the CFO role on April 1, 2026, marking a significant transition in the group’s financial leadership as it accelerates its transformation into a unified technology company.

The move, described by the company as an "orderly and smooth" succession, follows Thomas's own request to leave the board. 

On LinkedIn, Siemens wrote: “We’re wrapping up a successful CFO era. Today, Ralf Thomas concludes his tenure as CFO of Siemens AG after nearly 13 remarkable years.  

“Ralf’s impressive legacy includes many transformational highlights. Just a few examples: consistent performance, outstanding free cash flow, prudent resource allocation, bold moves to sharpen the focus of Siemens’ portfolio, and pioneering advances in the digitalization of finance.”

Ralf will continue to serve as a special advisor to both the Supervisory and Managing Boards until December 2026, ensuring continuity during the hand-over period. 

He will also retain his position as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Siemens Healthineers AG.

Strategic evolution at Siemens

The leadership transition comes as Siemens implements its ONE Tech Company framework. 

Launched in late 2024, the programme aims to dissolve traditional silos across the group’s industrial, infrastructure and mobility businesses to create a more integrated technology organisation. 

By combining real-world engineering with digital software capabilities, Siemens is positioning itself to capture higher growth in industrial AI and sustainability markets.

The streamlining of the Managing Board, which will be reduced from seven to five members following the departures of Thomas and Smart Infrastructure head Matthias Rebellius, is a key component of this leaner operational model.

Jim Hagemann Snabe, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, frames the appointments as a deliberate step to set the course for the next phase of this transformation.

He says: “With these decisions, the Supervisory Board is ensuring orderly and smooth succession planning for the Managing Board and setting the course for the next phase of our transformation into ONE Tech Company.

“My special thanks go to Ralf Thomas for his active support in the selection and onboarding of his successor as well as for his clear leadership and strategic foresight, which have contributed significantly to the company’s current position of strength.”

The legacy of Ralf Thomas

Ralf’s tenure as CFO has been defined by a rigorous focus on financial resilience and portfolio optimisation. 

Since taking the role in 2013, he has overseen a period of significant structural change, including the spin-offs of Siemens Energy and Siemens Healthineers. Under his watch, Siemens transitioned from a broad conglomerate into a focused technology company, a shift that has substantially bolstered the group’s balance sheet.

Roland Busch, President and CEO of Siemens AG, notes that "Siemens' impressive financial strength clearly bears his signature," highlighting Ralf's role in maintaining fiscal discipline while the company invested heavily in its digital software portfolio. 

Writing in LinkedIn, Roland says: “Ralf, I would like to express my sincere thanks to you – for your extraordinary achievements and the extremely good and trusting cooperation as CFO of Siemens.

“With your clarity and steady leadership you shaped so many important chapters of Siemens' transformation into ONE Tech Company. Over the past 13 years, you’ve done a fantastic job and helped build a stronger, more focused Siemens on a rock-solid financial foundation. You ensured we could invest with confidence and remain resilient. To a large extent, our strong development today bears your signature.”

Who is new CFO, Veronika Bienert?

Veronika brings extensive operational and financial experience to the CFO role. 

She currently oversees a diverse service portfolio, including Siemens Financial Services (SFS), Siemens Real Estate, and Global Business Services. 

Her background as both a financial expert and an entrepreneur is seen as vital for the next phase of the group's evolution, where financial strategy must be closely aligned with technological innovation.

Her deep knowledge of the SFS business – a key driver in financing the digital and sustainability transitions for Siemens’ customers – provides her with a unique perspective on the intersection of finance and industrial technology. 

Roland has previously described her as an "outstanding financial expert" whose experience will be essential as Siemens seeks to scale its AI-driven solutions across its global customer base.

Discussing her transition to the role, Veronika says: “This is a very meaningful step for me. A sincere thank you to the entire Supervisory Board for their trust in me. 

“I’m looking forward to continuing Ralf P. Thomas’s successful work, bringing in new perspectives so that Siemens can unlock its full potential as ONE Tech Company across all its businesses and regions. Together with Ralf, we will ensure a smooth transfer of the finance function with its extremely efficient and highly motivated teams.”