AThere is a change at the top of the federal highway company. Stefan Birkner, former Lower Saxony FDP parliamentary group leader and Environment Minister, is to become the new boss in the summer, as the Federal Ministry of Transport announced on Monday in Berlin. Previously, the CEO, Stephan Krenz, who had been in office since 2019, had announced his departure. The management will also be expanded to include a technical director. This should take better account of special tasks such as bridge renovations and greater standardization of construction work.
Dirk Brandenburger, previously technical director of the German Unity Fernstrassenplanungs- und -bau GmbH (Deges), is to take over the function. Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) said that Birkner and Brandenburger would bring extensive experience with them so that Autobahn GmbH could be set up even better. According to the ministry, one of the future key tasks of Birkner, who has a doctorate in law, will be communication with politics and associations. The 49-year-old was the FDP’s top candidate in the Lower Saxony elections in autumn 2022, but failed to make it into the state parliament. From 2012 to 2013 he was Minister for the Environment and before that Secretary of State.
Wissing regretted Krenz’s departure and thanked him for pushing the “enormous reform” to develop the Autobahn company with great commitment. The previous managing director had previously announced that he would resign from office in the summer. After more than four years, the first decisive phase of the reform has been implemented. A strong organization has emerged that functions stably and is prepared for the future, according to a statement by Krenz, which is available to the German Press Agency. He has been at the helm of Autobahn GmbH since 2019, which started operations in early 2021.
Since then, the federal government has been taking care of the planning, construction and maintenance of the motorways from a single source. Previously, responsibilities were shared between the federal and state governments. The Autobahn GmbH, with headquarters in Berlin, regional branches and 189 Autobahn maintenance depots, is also responsible for the operational service on the 13,000-kilometer network – for example for winter service and the maintenance of traffic signs. In addition, the Federal Highway Authority was set up in Leipzig.