Story byFormer NWSL executive becomes first woman CEO of Bundesliga club with RB Leipzig appointmentSebastian Stafford-BloorWed, December 10, 2025 at 11:46 AM UTC·2 min readFormer National Women’s Soccer League executive Tatjana Haenni will become the first woman to be chief executive officer (CEO) of a German Bundesliga club after being appointed by RB Leipzig. Leipzig announced the appointment of Haenni, 59, on Wednesday, confirming she will officially take up the role on January 1. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Bundesliga club have been without a permanent CEO since Oliver Mintzlaff stepped down in November 2022 to take up a wider role within Red Bull. Leipzig explained Haenni would head the club’s management board alongside chief business officer Johann Plenge, chief finance officer Florian Hopp and managing director for sport Marcel Schafer. Plenge will take on additional responsibilities as part of the management restructure. Haenni said: “My discussions with the club’s leadership were marked by trust and appreciation, and I am convinced that with strong teamwork and a focus on RB Leipzig’s strengths, we can tap into significant potential.”The Athletic reported in May that Haenni would be leaving her position as chief sporting director at the NWSL. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementShe had been in the role since 2022 and was responsible for collaborating “with players, league officials and stakeholders to implement sporting strategies that distinguish and sustain the NWSL as the world’s premier women’s professional soccer league”, and leading “the development of procedures, policies and programs to identify, attract, retain and grow the world’s best players, coaches and referees”. Haenni played international football for Switzerland and since retiring has held administrative and executive roles with the Swiss football association (SFV), UEFA, FIFA and FC Zurich.“We are extremely pleased to have been able to appoint Tatjana Haenni as a strong leader in the position of CEO at RB Leipzig,” Mintzlaff added. “In our discussions, she impressed us and the committees with her expertise, as well as her combination of specialist knowledge, leadership strength and strategic thinking.”How significant is Haenni’s appointment?“Es ist eine frau!” read the headline on Sky Deutschland, reporting this change: “it’s a woman!”AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThat describes how unusual it is.