Sebastian Schmitt
Friedrichshafen, Germany: ZF Friedrichshafen AG has announced a significant leadership transition with the appointment of Sebastian Schmitt to its Board of Management, effective September 1, 2026. Schmitt will take charge of the company’s Electrified Powertrain Technology division, succeeding in an expanded leadership role as ZF continues to strengthen its transformation strategy.
The appointment follows the decision of Dr Peter Holdmann not to renew his Board of Management contract for personal reasons. Holdmann will step down on August 31, 2026, by mutual agreement after more than 26 years with the company.
As part of the leadership reshuffle, Schmitt will assume responsibility for the Electrified Powertrain Technology division—previously overseen by CEO Mathias Miedreich—along with the company’s Americas region. Miedreich, in turn, will take over responsibility for the Chassis Solutions division and Group Research & Development from Holdmann.
Commenting on the transition, Dr Rolf Breidenbach, Chairman of the ZF Supervisory Board, acknowledged Holdmann’s contributions to strengthening the Chassis Solutions business. He noted that under Holdmann’s leadership, ZF established a strong position in advanced chassis technologies, particularly in by-wire braking and steering systems. Breidenbach also expressed confidence in Schmitt’s leadership, highlighting his deep understanding of the Electrified Powertrain Technology division and his role in delivering early restructuring successes.
ZF CEO Mathias Miedreich thanked Holdmann for his collaborative leadership and contribution to the company’s ongoing transformation while welcoming Schmitt to the Board of Management. Friedrichshafen Mayor Simon Blümcke, representing majority shareholder Zeppelin Foundation, also praised Holdmann’s long-standing service and congratulated Schmitt on his appointment.
Reflecting on his tenure, Holdmann said the successful integration of chassis electronics and ZF Race Engineering had accelerated the restructuring of the Chassis Solutions division and strengthened the global demand for ZF’s vehicle dynamics solutions. He described the transition as the right moment to begin a new chapter while expressing confidence in the team’s ability to continue driving the company’s Chassis 2.0 transformation.
Schmitt, born in Werneck, Germany, is an industrial engineer and a graduate of TU Ilmenau. Having spent nearly two decades at ZF, he has held several key positions across the company’s global operations, including leadership roles in Mexico and Germany. Before taking charge of the Electrified Powertrain Technology division in November 2025, he led the Electrified Powertrain Systems product line.
Holdmann joined ZF in 2000 and built an extensive career in passenger-car chassis technology. Following ZF’s acquisition of TRW, he led the integration of the former TRW chassis operations before spearheading the creation of the unified Chassis Solutions division in 2023. Since March 2026, he has also served as ZF’s Chief Technology Officer, overseeing the company’s technology strategy.
The leadership changes underscore ZF’s continued focus on advancing electrified powertrain technologies and next-generation chassis systems while reinforcing its long-term transformation roadmap.
Source ZF
