Oliver Kahn and Hasan Salihamidžić dismissed - Jan-Christian Dreesen new CEO

Oliver Kahn is no longer CEO of FC Bayern München AG. Hasan Salihamidžić will also be replaced as board member for sport. This was decided by the club’s supervisory board. Kahn will be replaced by the current vice-chairman of the board Jan-Christian Dreesen. Salihamidžić's successor is still to be decided.

Jan-Christian Dreesen new FC Bayern CEO

The supervisory board of FC Bayern München AG has appointed Dreesen, 55, as the new chairman of the board, succeeding Kahn. Dreesen has served as vice-chairman of the board of FC Bayern München AG for the past ten years. He originally announced his departure in autumn at the end of the 2022/23 season to seek new challenges.

Herbert Hainer, chairman of the FC Bayern supervisory board: “Jan-Christian Dreesen has done an outstanding job for FC Bayern over the past ten years. He lives FC Bayern, knows the club inside out and knows what is important here. We are very pleased that he is taking on this task. He can get to work without a period of adjustment, and that's exactly what FC Bayern needs in the current situation.”

Jan-Christian Dreesen, FC Bayern CEO: “First of all, I would like to thank our supervisory board for the trust they have placed in me. Actually, I had planned something else in my life - but when FC Bayern calls, you leave everything else behind. This club has always been a matter of the heart for me and I also know what positive power it can develop. I will continue to use all my energy to be successful with FC Bayern in all areas and I am looking forward to the new task. Those who know me know how much the club, its employees and our fans mean to me.”

Kahn was appointed to the FC Bayern München AG board on 1 January 2020. On 1 July 2021, he took over as CEO. During his time as a member of the board, FC Bayern won the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup, the Bundesliga twice, the DFB Cup and the DFL Supercup. After he took over from Karl-Heinz Rummenigge as CEO, the club went on to win the Bundesliga and the DFL Supercup twice each. Before that, Kahn was goalkeeper and captain for the German record champions from 1994 to 2008 and won the Champions League, the FIFA Club World Cup, the UEFA Cup, the Bundesliga eight times, and the DFB Cup and the DFL League Cup six times each.

Hainer: “The decision to part with Oliver Kahn was anything but easy for the supervisory board. Nevertheless, due to the overall development, we have come to the decision to make a new appointment at the top of the executive board. We would like to thank Oliver Kahn for his commitment, his ideas and for everything we have achieved together. He will always remain a great figure at FC Bayern. We wish him all the best for his future.”

Dreesen has been a member of the FC Bayern board since February 2013 and served as vice-chairman since February 2014. Born on 4 September 1967 in Aurich/East Frisia, the business graduate started his professional career as a trainee at Bayerische Vereinsbank, later HypoVereinsbank, where he rose to the position of Director for Private Clients. He subsequently served as Chairman of the Board of UBS Germany and was responsible for corporate banking for many years as a member of the Board of BayernLB.

His responsibilities at FC Bayern have so far included finance and controlling, human resources, merchandising & licensing, ticket service, security & facility management, IT & tech, legal, fan and fan club support, Allianz Arena GmbH as well as social representation in the shareholdings of FC Bayern München AG. Since August 2016, Dreesen has represented FC Bayern on the nine-member executive committee of the German Football League (DFL).