Vonovia SE announced that the Supervisory Board unanimously decided to appoint Katja Wünschel as new Chief Development Officer (CDO) of Vonovia. She will join the company on April 1, 2026, and will take up her position on the Executive Board on June 1, 2026. She will succeed Daniel Riedl, who is leaving the Vonovia Board by mutual agreement on May 31, 2026, after a two-month induction period for Katja Wünschel.
Katja Wünschel has been Chief Executive Officer at RWE Renewables Europe & Australia GmbH since 2022, a company that develops, builds and operates onshore wind and solar farms. Prior to this, from 2019, she was Chief Operating Officer (COO) at the predecessor organisation, RWE Renewables GmbH. She has held leading positions in the energy sector in Germany and abroad for over two decades. Katja Wünschel started her professional career in the Bayer Group in 1999 and moved to the energy supplier E.ON in 2002.
After two years at head office and a further three years at E.ON in the Czech Republic, she moved into renewable energies at E.ON Climate & Renewables GmbH in 2008, initially as Director of Strategy & Business Development and then, from 2011, as Director of Global Engineering. She then became Director of Wind Onshore Europe, where she was responsible for the project planning, construction and operation of wind farms. She studied business administration at the University of Bayreuth. The Supervisory Board has also renewed the contract of CHRO Ruth Werhahn ahead of schedule until September 30, 2029.
Ruth Werhahn has been responsible for Human Resources, the Vonovia Technical Service, IT and Central Services since October 2023. Over the past two years, Ruth Werhahn has made significant progress in developing employer brand and corporate culture and has successfully placed all her divisions on a strong entrepreneurial foundation. Especially during times of demographic change and an increasing shortage of skilled workers, HR plays a crucial strategic role.
