Telefónica Deutschland has confirmed that Chief Executive Officer Markus Haas is set to leave the company, with the Supervisory Board launching a search for his successor.
In a statement, the company said Peter Löscher, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, has informed members that he is “currently engaged in discussions with CEO Markus Haas regarding the early termination of his contract as Chief Executive Officer of the company.” Löscher also announced that the search for Haas’s successor “has already commenced.”
According to Telefónica, Haas will remain in office until a suitable successor has been identified and approved by the Supervisory Board.
The announcement formally confirms reports that the company is preparing for a change in leadership after more than eight years under Haas. He took over as CEO in 2017, overseeing the integration of E-Plus following its merger with o2 and leading significant investments in 5G network rollout and fibre infrastructure. In total, Haas has been working for Telefónica for almost 30 years.
German business daily Handelsblatt reported that Telefónica’s parent company in Madrid initiated the leadership change as part of efforts to set a new strategic course for its German subsidiary, which represents one of the group’s largest and most competitive markets. The report said potential candidates for the top job are already being considered both internally and externally.
Under Haas’s leadership, Telefónica Deutschland expanded its mobile and broadband customer base and strengthened its position as Germany’s third-largest telecoms operator. However, the company continues to face intense competition from Deutsche Telekom and Vodafone, as well as pressure to increase profitability in a highly regulated market.
