Bayer Leverkusen Announce Major Leadership Change After 16 Years

Bayer Leverkusen have confirmed a significant change at the top of the club, with Werner Wenning stepping down as chairman of the shareholder committee at the end of 2026.

The 79-year-old, who turns 80 on October 21, will leave his position on December 31 after 16 consecutive years in charge of the committee. Wolfgang Nickl, the club's former chief financial officer, will succeed him on January 1, 2027.

The transition marks the end of an era for one of the most influential figures behind Leverkusen's rise, including the club's historic domestic treble in 2024.

Wenning Leaves Behind A Historic Legacy

Few figures have been as closely associated with Die Werkself's development as Wenning.

Born in Opladen, a district of Leverkusen, he has followed the club since childhood and first chaired its shareholder committee between 1999 and 2002.

He returned to the position in December 2010 and has remained in charge ever since, overseeing major strategic decisions and the most successful period in the club's history.

His tenure included Leverkusen's unbeaten Bundesliga title triumph in 2024, followed by victories in the DFB-Pokal and German Supercup.

CEO Fernando Carro paid tribute to Wenning's influence, particularly his decision to appoint him in 2018.

Wenning, who began his career at Bayer in 1966, described the 2024 successes as personally unforgettable, highlighting what they meant to generations of supporters.

Nickl Takes Over With Strong Bayer Connections

His successor, Wolfgang Nickl, is already familiar with the club's internal structures.

The 57-year-old served as Leverkusen's CFO from 2018 until May 2026 and joined the shareholder committee in March.

Nickl also brings international business experience, having previously held senior financial positions at technology companies ASML and Western Digital.

He will now lead the committee responsible for overseeing the club's management and long-term strategic direction.

He also stressed his intention to maintain close cooperation with Carro and sporting director Simon Rolfes, two central figures in Bayer's recent success.

A New Chapter Behind The Scenes

Nickl's appointment comes amid wider changes to Leverkusen's shareholder committee.

Klaus Beck and former managing director Michael Schade stepped down in June, with Jürgen Schrapp joining in July. Dr Max Thümmel, Bayer AG's group general counsel and chief compliance officer, also joined the committee in October.

Bernd-Peter Bier and Dr Michael Preuss remain members.

Although the transition will not directly affect Carles Martínez's first-team preparations, it represents an important development in the club's leadership structure.

Wenning helped guide Die Werkself through a period that culminated in unprecedented domestic success. Nickl now inherits the responsibility of supporting the club's ambitions while maintaining the stability that made those achievements possible.

For Bayer Leverkusen, the challenge is not simply to celebrate the achievements of the past, but to build on them under new leadership.

From here the stage only gets bigger.