Leadership Handover at Expert Organization after 20 Years

Uta Leitner takes over DEKRA Communications

Jun 01, 2022

Initially, Uta Leitner will take over as Head of Corporate Communications at DEKRA from July 1, 2022 and thereby the group-wide responsibility for External and Internal Communications, as well as the Newsroom Team. Simultaneously, the 49-year-old will become Deputy Head of the “Communications and Brand Management” division. From October 1, 2022 she will take on leadership responsibility for the whole division as Executive Vice President (EVP). Uta Leitner, previously Head of Global Communications at Daimler Truck, will take over the role from Stephan Heigl (60). After 20 years as the head communicator at the globally active expert organization, he will move on, as planned, to a new phase of his life.

In her new role from October 1, 2022 Uta Leitner will conduct all national and international communications, both internal and external, the brand management as well as the political communications of the DEKRA corporate group. She will report directly to Stan Zurkiewicz, the CEO and Chairman of DEKRA’s Management Board.
Uta Leitner comes to us after 24 years of successful communications work at commercial vehicle manufacturer Daimler Truck. She brings wide-ranging experience of all communications sectors as well as an excellent international network.
“We are very pleased that Uta Leitner has agreed to take on the role of Communications Chief for DEKRA. She has done outstanding work and played a major role in improving the global reputation of the Daimler Truck group and the awareness of its brands,” says Stan Zurkiewicz, DEKRA CEO. “I am sure she will make a vital contribution, particularly in the international arena, to the DEKRA brand’s positioning, which, essentially stands for technical, and digital safety as well as sustainability.
Stephan Heigl is looking forward to the next phase of his life: He would like to dedicate more time to his sporting, culinary and artistic hobbies in addition to his voluntary projects. Zurkiewicz: “I would like to express my sincere thanks to Stephan Heigl in the name of the whole board and in the name of my predecessor Stefan Kölbl for his excellent work and tireless dedication to DEKRA. He has established the reputation and the awareness of the DEKRA brand as well as the communicative positioning of our company as an expert organization at the top of our industry. We wish him all the very best for his future as well as good health and continued success.”