Matthias Tillmann to be new CEO of FC Schalke 04

“We’re very happy that we’ve managed to bring Matthias Tillmann to FC Schalke 04. This happened following a recruitment process that, with external support, we’ve completed quickly and with a very good result for Schalke 04,” explains chairman of the supervisory board Axel Hefer. “The candidates were evaluated by the selection committee based on the following five essential criteria: leadership experience in big, modern companies, communication ability, sport sponsorship experience and a connection to football and our club, as well as strength in leadership and implementation. Matthias completely convinced us in every area.”

Matthias Tillmann was most recently working as the managing director of Trivago and led the company through the Covid-19 pandemic together with Axel Hefer. The trained economist was responsible for the areas of finance and marketing, among others. Previous to his time at Trivago, Tillmann’s CV also includes time as an investment banker for Deutsche Bank, before moving on to other roles within the company.

“We are convinced that we need someone at the helm that has a wealth of experience in several departments, in order to help our club continue to grow. Matthias fits this profile perfectly. Not only does he have in-depth knowledge in the areas of finance, strategy and marketing, but he has also been responsible for international sponsorship budgets in the area of tens of millions of dollars. He also has proven experience in areas such as software development and content production. Matthias is also familiar with the club itself, has played football at a high level and is a life-long Schalke fan,” said Axel Hefer.

Club member since 1995

Tilmann, who has been a club member since 1995, is looking forward to taking up this new role. “I would like to thank the supervisory board for their faith in me. FC Schalke 04 are currently in a tough situation, in which key decisions need to be made, both in sporting and financial matters. That’s why I have set myself an agenda for my first 90 days on the job,” said Tillmann. In it, he touches on three central areas: sport, sponsorships and working together as a team. “Sport is our core business area, where we need to make key decisions and also question those procedures that are currently in place. I am very much looking forward to hearing the analysis and seeing the impact from our new head coach, Karel Geraerts. It’s obvious that, after ensuring that we are back on solid footing, that we need to shift our focus to what lies ahead in order to help guide Schalke 04 back to the Bundesliga. That remains our goal.”

In order to achieve this goal, it will be crucial for the club’s finances to be strong, particularly when it comes to revenue. “A main focus of my work will be on marketing and sponsorship,” said Tillmann. “After announcing a change in our main sponsor in early 2022, we have not been able to generate the momentum that is needed in the market in this area. Schalke are a powerful, emotional club and therefore make for an appealing brand, which we need to use when it comes to how we market and position ourselves.”

In order to achieve these goals, Tillmann added that the most important thing will be the full support of his colleagues. “We need to define clear expectations for all parties and then work hard together to do everything we can for Schalke. As CEO, I will strive to be a leader and will let the results be a measure of our achievements.”