Overview
- The 66-year-old won 59% of 4,244 ballots in a contest without a rival, drawing boos and pointed criticism from fan representatives during the session.
- He relinquished his long‑held KGaA chief executive role, transferring operational control to Lars Ricken after more than two decades at the helm.
- The first hybrid members' assembly enabled online voting but was delayed about an hour by registration problems that forced an adjusted agenda.
- Members passed far‑reaching bylaw changes that expand member nomination rights, require greater transparency, tighten sponsorship scrutiny, and shift the economic council to member elections.
- Following public reports of historical abuse by a former employee, the club commissioned two law firms to investigate, and Watzke pledged a thorough review with consequences for failures.