About
Martina Merz served as CEO of ThyssenKrupp from 2019 to 2023 and has been described as one of the most powerful women in the German economy. During her tenure, she led the company through a period of historic transformation, highlighted by the €17.2 billion sale of its elevator business — the largest industrial transaction in Europe at the time — which significantly reduced debt and refocused the company’s strategy.
Merz also oversaw the divestment of ThyssenKrupp’s Brazilian steel mill, the largest sale in the company’s history, and spearheaded its entry into electromobility with the acquisition of Cellforce Group. Her leadership laid the groundwork for the separation of the steel business, expected to be completed in 2024, solidifying her reputation as a visionary and transformational figure in German industry.