News
Cramer, Ricken, and Treß Extend Their Contracts Early
The Executive Committee of the Advisory Board of Borussia Dortmund Geschäftsführungs-GmbH has extended the employment contracts of Carsten Cramer, Lars Ricken, and Thomas Treß. At the same time, Carsten Cramer, previously Spokesperson for the Executive Board, was appointed Chairman of the Executive Board effective immediately.
Carsten Cramer’s contract (responsible for Business Divisions, Digitalization & Internationalization, Marketing & Sales, and Communications), which was originally set to expire on 30 June, 2027, has been extended through 30 June, 2031. The contract of Lars Ricken, Managing Director of Sports, has also been extended early and now runs through 30 June, 2030. Thomas Treß (responsible for Finance, Organization, Legal Affairs & Investor Relations) has decided, at his own request, to extend his contract—which was originally set to expire on 30 June, 2027—by an additional year until 30 June, 2028. He then intends to step down from the Executive Board and shift his professional focus to serving on supervisory and oversight boards of other companies, as well as to independent consulting work. Thomas Treß will continue to be available to Borussia Dortmund in an advisory capacity as needed. The employment contract of Svenja Schlenker, who was appointed managing director in November 2025, remains unchanged and runs through 31 December, 2028.
Strong Confidence in the Executive Board
With these long-term contract extensions, Borussia Dortmund is expressly committing to its current management team. These decisions stand for continuity and stability and ensure BVB’s long-term success in both sports and business.
BVB President Hans-Joachim Watzke states: “I have great confidence in Carsten Cramer and the entire BVB Board of Management. They possess the experience, expertise, and understanding of our club’s unique identity needed to successfully lead Borussia Dortmund into the future. With the new corporate strategy and the restructuring process that has been initiated, important projects have been set in motion that are intended to position BVB for the future in terms of sports, business, structure, and culture. I am convinced that Borussia Dortmund is in very good hands with this management team.”
From Spokesperson to Chairman of the Executive Board
“I would like to thank the Executive Committee for their great trust and am very much looking forward to the tasks ahead of us. Together with the entire team, I want to position Borussia Dortmund for the future and continue to develop it with a clear vision. Our goal is to lead BVB into the future with sporting success, economic stability, and a firm foundation in its values,” says Carsten Cramer.
Carsten Cramer has been with Borussia Dortmund since October 2010 and was appointed to the Executive Board effective March 1, 2018. In November 2025, he assumed the role of Spokesperson for the Executive Board. His appointment as Chairman further strengthens his special role within the Executive Board. Going forward, he will coordinate the board’s work even more closely, drive overall strategic development, and represent Borussia Dortmund—both internally and externally—together with his colleagues on the Executive Board. The individual members’ professional responsibilities for their respective business areas remain unaffected.
Lars Ricken has been responsible for the Sports division as a member of the Executive Board since May 2024. Prior to that, he headed BVB’s youth academy and developed it into one of Germany’s most successful talent development programs. As a member of the BVB Board of Management, Ricken is committed to consistently advancing Borussia Dortmund’s sports strategy, strengthening the transition of the club’s own young talents to the professional ranks, and firmly establishing BVB among the national and international elite.
Thomas Treß has been a member of the executive board since 2006 and is responsible for finance, organization, legal affairs, and investor relations. Before joining BVB, Treß, who holds a degree in business administration, worked in auditing, most recently as a partner at RölfsPartner. With his many years of experience and financial expertise, Treß is tasked with ensuring BVB’s financial stability, further developing reliable structures, and thereby laying the foundation for a successful future both on the field and in business.
With these personnel decisions, Borussia Dortmund is combining long-term continuity with a clearly defined path for the further development of its leadership structure. The executive board will continue to carry out its duties collectively, closely integrating the diverse areas of expertise within the management team.