The Supervisory Board of Salzgitter AG elected Ulrike Brouzi as its new Chairwoman during its ordinary meeting on March 19, 2026, with her term beginning immediately. Brouzi, 60, has served as a member of the Salzgitter AG Supervisory Board since May 23, 2013, providing her with over a decade of direct involvement with the company's governance and strategic oversight. Her professional background as a graduate in Business Mathematics and her current role overseeing finance and compliance on the Board of Managing Directors at DZ BANK AG in Frankfurt establish her as a seasoned financial expert poised to lead the supervisory body.
This leadership transition is significant for Salzgitter AG, a major player in the steel industry, as it ensures continuity and deep institutional knowledge at the highest level of corporate governance. The appointment signals stability for the company's strategic direction, which is crucial in a capital-intensive and globally competitive sector facing challenges such as decarbonization, energy transition, and volatile market demands. Brouzi's familiarity with the company's processes, structures, and long-term strategy, developed through her years on the board, positions her to effectively oversee the executive management and guide the group through its ongoing transformation.
Gerald Heere, Lower Saxony's Finance Minister, a member of Salzgitter AG's Supervisory Board, and the representative of the main shareholder, the State of Lower Saxony, expressed strong support for the appointment. "I am very pleased with the appointment of Ulrike Brouzi. She is a proven financial expert who has supported the Salzgitter Group for many years with her Supervisory Board mandate. In this position, Ms. Brouzi has been strongly committed to shaping and designing the course for the company in recent years. She is very familiar with the relevant processes, structures and the strategic direction of the Group and is therefore an excellent choice as Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board," Heere stated. This endorsement from a key shareholder underscores the strategic importance of the selection and aligns corporate governance with shareholder interests.
The election follows the departure of Heinz-Gerhard Wente, after which Prof. Dr. Hans-Jurgen Urban served as the interim Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board. Finance Minister Heere acknowledged Urban's contribution, saying, "On behalf of the Supervisory Board and the Executive Board of Salzgitter AG, I would like to thank Hans-Jurgen Urban most sincerely for his great commitment during this transitional period." The orderly succession highlights the robustness of the company's governance framework, minimizing disruption during leadership changes.
For stakeholders, including investors, employees, and industry observers, Brouzi's elevation to Chairwoman reinforces confidence in the company's strategic oversight at a critical time. The steel industry is navigating a complex landscape requiring significant investment in green technologies and operational efficiency. A chairperson with extensive financial acumen and a long-standing understanding of Salzgitter AG's specific challenges and opportunities is vital for steering the company toward sustainable profitability and competitiveness. The move also reflects broader trends in corporate governance where continuity and specialized expertise are increasingly valued in supervisory roles, particularly in foundational industries undergoing rapid change.
