Governance
Borussia Dortmund considers ensuring integrity, transparency, and fairness to be a core strategic task – and a crucial contribution to the long-term viability of football.
A clearly structured and actively practiced corporate governance system is of great importance in this regard. It stands for responsible, transparent corporate management and control that is geared toward long-term and sustainable value creation.
In the context of sustainability, corporate governance means for us that the company's business is conducted in accordance with applicable laws, the Articles of Association, and other relevant regulations. In addition to complying with legal and regulatory requirements, it is also important to observe internal company guidelines and the recommendations of the German Corporate Governance Code, which together form a framework for action for Borussia Dortmund.
Sustainability, integrity, and good corporate governance are essential components of our corporate culture. They shape our behavior toward customers, suppliers, employees, limited shareholders, and society as a whole. Goals are set and communicated as part of the strategic decisions made by the management. In fulfilling our tasks, we rely on the personal responsibility and initiative of our managers and employees, with whom we have agreed on clear management principles.
We agree on clear objectives, the achievement of which is regularly reviewed. Further information can be found on our Investor Relations website in the “Corporate Governance” section.
Further strategically relevant aspects in the field of sustainable corporate management are presented below in an overview.
Responsibility for sustainability management lies with the management board. The Corporate Responsibility department reports to Thomas Treß and Carsten Cramer, who oversee the implementation and progress of sustainable development at Borussia Dortmund.
The Corporate Responsibility department coordinates sustainability activities in close cooperation with the specialist departments. In this interdisciplinary exchange, sustainability goals are defined that are consistent with the corporate strategy and international standards, such as the Paris Climate Agreement. The operational implementation of the measures takes place at the departmental level. Through the direct reporting line to the management, they are regularly informed about progress – in particular with regard to the achievement of goals, the implementation of measures, and the concepts developed.
To support the management and control of its sustainability strategy, Borussia Dortmund established an ESG Committee in 2024. This committee is composed of division managers and executives from the subsidiaries.
The ESG Committee is responsible for managing the key sustainability-related areas of activity in the respective departments. It also serves as a platform for discussing cross-departmental topics and projects related to sustainability and for reporting on progress in the individual areas. As the supervisory body, the Supervisory Board is regularly informed about the sustainability strategy and reporting.
For Borussia Dortmund, active governance also means communicating sustainability measures and results transparently. This is done as part of the annual sustainability reporting as well as via the website, various dialogue formats, and other communication channels.
A key component is direct exchange with stakeholders. Formats such as the partner roundtable on sustainability enable the targeted and effective involvement of relevant stakeholders.
In order to assess progress and deviations within the strategy, Borussia Dortmund has defined specific target indicators and KPIs for all areas of action, which are reviewed regularly. A holistic ESG controlling system is currently being developed to further optimize measurement and control.
The following principles play a central role in Borussia Dortmund's responsible conduct.
- Declaration of principles on human rights
- Code of conduct for employees
- Third Party Code of Conduct
All relevant documents are available in the Publications and Downloads section.
In addition, concerns about misconduct affecting the company or the well-being of employees and third parties can be reported quickly and easily via the whistleblower system.
These measures and principles form the basis for responsible action, strengthen Borussia Dortmund's resilience, and enable the club to successfully meet the challenges of the future.
