For Dr Michael Diederich, it was his first annual general meeting as FC Bayern’s vice-chairman of the executive board and chief financial officer. "It’s a great honour and privilege for me to stand here before you today," said Diederich. The 58-year-old succeeds current CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen in the role. "It’s a legacy that I see as a great obligation and incentive towards you, and I can already say at this point: you can count on me," Diederich assured us. And the figures he presented on Sunday should put a smile on the face of every Bayern fan.
Record turnover of €854.2 million
"It was a challenging year. In this environment, it is all the more remarkable that we managed to achieve a record turnover of €854.2 million, which equates to an increase of around 30 percent. This is an extraordinary achievement," said Diederich. Group profit before taxes more than tripled in the 2022/23 financial year, rising to €54.5 million. The group's net profit for the year rose to €35.7 million, an increase of €23 million compared to the previous season.
Equity as a benchmark for the entire football world
Diederich also spoke about the much-cited ‘investment account’: "As a former banker, I was allowed to watch over it. And as the current CFO, I make sure that it grows and prospers." The vice-chairman emphasised the club's clear economic stance: "Our mantra is always that, despite our sporting success, we only spend what we earn ourselves."
The 58-year-old also emphasised: "Everything we earn is invested in sport. For us, it's always first and foremost about sport. Our claim remains to be top both domestically and internationally. Our most important return on investment is titles." In conclusion, Diederich summarised for the members: "Your club has achieved record turnover, is a benchmark in terms of equity, is a European leader in terms of marketing and pays a top dividend."
President Herbert Hainer also addressed members at the AGM:
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