Dr. Stefan Traeger leaves Jenoptik
The Supervisory Board has announced that Dr. Stefan Traeger will step down from the Executive Board on February 15, 2026 and leave JENOPTIK AG by mutual agreement after nine years as President & CEO.
The members of the Supervisory Board explicitly thank Dr. Traeger for the work accomplished. ”Under the leadership of Dr. Traeger, Jenoptik has excellently developed into a profitably growing and increasingly focused photonics group in recent years. He has contributed significantly to focus the Group’s technological expertise on relevant future markets,” said Matthias Wierlacher, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of JENOPTIK AG.
Since Dr. Stefan Traeger took over as President & CEO in 2017, non-photonics businesses have been sold as part of the Group's strategic realignment, and the core optical/photonics business has been expanded through acquisitions, notably TRIOPTICS in 2020 and most recently Berliner Glas Medical and SwissOptic in 2021. The largest single investment in the Group's recent history, the construction of a state-of-the-art factory for innovative micro-optics in Dresden, has significantly strengthened Jenoptik's operational base. During his tenure, the Group’s revenue rose from around 685 million euros to over 1.1 billion euros last year. The EBITDA margin improved from 14.2 percent to around 20 percent over the same period.
“I am proud and happy that I was able to continue the East German success story “Jenoptik” in my hometown of Jena and lead it into a new era. Following a successful transformation, I am handing over a healthy and strong company to new hands and wish my successor every success in managing our company,’ explains Dr. Stefan Traeger.
Jenoptik's Supervisory Board will now focus on the succession to Dr. Stefan Traeger. “For that purpose we will start a structured process,” said Matthias Wierlacher, Chairman of the Supervisory Board.
About Jenoptik
Jenoptik is a global technology group operating in the photonics market. Our growth areas primarily include semiconductor technology, medical technology, metrology as well as smart mobility. Approximately 4,500 people worldwide work for the Jenoptik Group, which is headquartered in Jena (Germany). JENOPTIK AG is listed on the German Stock Exchange in Frankfurt and traded on the SDax and TecDax. In fiscal year 2024, Jenoptik generated revenue of around 1.12 billion euros.
