The Supervisory Board of Vonovia SE has unanimously decided to appoint Katja Wunschel as the company's new Chief Development Officer (CDO), effective June 1, 2026. She will join Vonovia on April 1, 2026, and after a two-month induction period, will succeed Daniel Riedl, who is leaving the Executive Board by mutual agreement on May 31, 2026.
Katja Wunschel brings over two decades of experience in the energy sector, most recently as Chief Executive Officer at RWE Renewables Europe & Australia GmbH since 2022, where she oversaw the development, construction, and operation of onshore wind and solar farms. Her background includes leadership roles in project management and large investment projects, which the Supervisory Board believes will be immensely valuable for Vonovia's development business, particularly in modular construction.
Clara C. Streit, Chair of the Supervisory Board, stated: "The appointment of Katja Wunschel means we have gained a highly experienced business leader for our development business. Her extensive knowledge in planning and implementing construction and development projects will be immensely valuable for the further development of new housing and, in particular, modular construction at Vonovia."
In addition, the Supervisory Board has renewed the contract of CHRO Ruth Werhahn ahead of schedule until September 30, 2029. Werhahn, who has been responsible for Human Resources, the Vonovia Technical Service, IT, and Central Services since October 2023, has made significant progress in developing the company's employer brand and corporate culture. Streit commented: "Especially during times of demographic change and an increasing shortage of skilled workers, HR plays a crucial strategic role."
Ruth Werhahn expressed her delight at the renewed trust, noting that the company attracted around 2,800 new employees this year, primarily in maintenance, and continues to grow. "Housing is a basic need for everyone. And it is above all thanks to the employees of Vonovia that our company is so successful in business while also meeting its responsibilities to the community," she said.
Vonovia SE, Europe's leading private residential real estate company with 533,000 residential units in Germany, Sweden, and Austria, focuses on sustainability as the core of its growth policy. The company's 2028 growth strategy includes strengthening its Value-add, Development, and Recurring Sales segments, promoting innovative technologies such as serial modernization and modular new construction, and offering its scalable model to the market.
For more information, see the original press release at newmediawire.com.
