As announced last year, Olaf Bartsch has stepped down from his role as Executive Director Finance & Administration of the Miele Group and handed this role over to Stefan Koss with effect from April. Having worked for Miele for 34 years, Bartsch is now retiring from the company.

“We would like to thank Olaf for his outstanding commitment”, said the Miele Executive Board. “Through his tireless efforts, he has been instrumental in always keeping Miele on course, even in challenging times. In particular, he both initiated and successfully implemented the recently launched transformation of our company, thus helping to set a strategic course for Miele’s future. His personal integrity and calm yet decisive management style make him an exemplary leader. We owe him a great debt of gratitude for his accomplishments and many years of loyal service”.

Bartsch joined the company as a trainee in 1991 after graduating with a degree in industrial engineering. Having held various positions in central controlling, he became Head of the Finance/Controlling department in 2004. On 1 January 2009, he assumed responsibility for his current department as Executive Director. In addition to finance and controlling, he was most recently responsible for IT, corporate strategy and development, transformation programmes, construction and real estate activities, logistics and legal/compliance.

Bartsch, who will turn 62 this summer, faced a major challenge early on in his career at Miele: steering the company through the international financial crisis of 2008/2009. Another major milestone was the takeover of Italian medical technology specialist Steelco, which entered into a Miele-led joint venture with the Belimed companies of Metall Zug last year. “The decision to strengthen our medical technology business was strategically important and helps cushion us against economic fluctuations in the domestic appliance business”, said Bartsch in his farewell address. “Thanks to its current positioning, Miele is well placed to overcome future challenges and crises”. After his retirement, he plans to continue in a number of honorary roles, spend more time with his family, and stay active with various sporting hobbies.

As reported, Stefan Koss is succeeding Olaf Bartsch. Koss was previously CEO and President North America at BSH Hausgeräte GmbH. With his professional expertise, many years of appliance industry experience and strong international focus, Stefan Koss will provide valuable impulses for Miele’s further development. “I look forward to working with the team to drive Miele’s development forward”, said Koss. “Taking over from Olaf is a major responsibility. I’m confident that we will rise to meet the challenges ahead and shape the company’s future success”.

Koss is supported by five Executive Board members with equal rights: Dr Markus Miele and Dr Reinhard Zinkann as representatives of the owner families (Executive Directors and Co-Proprietors) and non-family Executive Directors Dr Stefan Breit (Technology), Dr Axel Kniehl (Marketing & Sales) and Rebecca Steinhage (Human Resources & Corporate Affairs).   

About Miele: For more than 125 years, Miele has lived up to its brand promise of “Immer Besser” in terms of quality, innovation and timeless elegance. Founded in 1899, the globally active company for premium domestic appliances inspires customers with pioneering solutions for the connected home. In addition, Miele offers appliances, systems and services for commercial use, such as in hotels or care facilities as well as in medical technology. With its durable and energy-saving appliances, Miele helps its customers make their daily lives as sustainable as possible. The company is owned by the two founding families, Miele and Zinkann. In the 2024 business year, Miele generated a turnover of 5.04 billion Euros with approximately 23,500 employees. Its global network comprises 19 production plants and around 50 service and sales subsidiaries (as of February 2025). The company has its headquarters in Gütersloh, North Rhine-Westphalia.