The Executive Committee of the Advisory Board of Borussia Dortmund Geschäftsführungs-GmbH has prematurely renewed the employment contract of the CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke. The employment contract that was due to expire on December 31st, 2016 was extended now until December 31st, 2019.

Hans-Joachim Watzke remains as hitherto chief executive officer (CEO) of Borussia Dortmund Geschäftsführungs-GmbH and primarily responsible for company strategy and the business divisions "sports", "communication" and "sponsoring".

“Hans-Joachim Watzke has done outstanding work in the past few years. He was an architect of BVB’s recent past, he is an architect of BVB’s present state and he will operate the development of this great club on a sustainable basis. In Hans-Joachim Watzke, Borussia Dortmund is delighted to not only have a competent but also an outstanding person at the top of the management until 2019 at least,” emphasised BVB president Dr. Reinhard Rauball.

“In coach Jürgen Klopp until 2018 and sporting director Michael Zorc until 2019, we have already succeeded in securing the sporting corner stones on a long-term basis,” added Rauball. “With the contract extension of Hans-Joachim Watzke we have now also succeeded in keeping the entrepreneurial cornerstone.”

As chief executive officer, Watzke (55), a business administration graduate, has been responsible for paving the way for a positive future for BVB. During his tenure, the club has enjoyed a number of successes, including the 2011 and 2012 Bundesliga titles, the 2012 DFB Cup trophy as well as the a Champions League final appearance in 2013. The club has also quadrupled its turnover in the last eight years under his leadership, with liabilities in the hundreds of millions being reduced. Together with Dr. Rauball, Watzke initially took the post on 15 February 2005 to rescue Borussia Dortmund from impending insolvency.

“We have such a trusting relationship at BVB that I just couldn’t decline. It is an honour and a pleasure to work for my club,” said Watzke, a native of Marsberg. He stressed: “Borussia Dortmund has developed into one of the financially healthiest clubs in Europe and established itself at the highest level. I’m convinced that we haven’t reached the end of our journey yet and I would like to play a part in keeping this fantastic club, which has almost 10 million fans in Germany alone, stand for an intense football experience, sustainable business and true love.”