New Year’s Reception: Jenoptik CEO Stefan Traeger was bid farewell

With long applause, gifts, and an optimistic outlook for the future, CEO Stefan Traeger was bid farewell yesterday at imaginata Jena. More than 350 guests from business, politics, and society, as well as many current and former employees and colleagues, attended the traditional New Year’s Reception.

In an emotional speech, Stefan Traeger looked back on his nearly nine years as CEO. He emphasized the long-term nature of decisions, which Jenoptik’s founding father Lothar Späth always kept in mind. He explained the transformation into a photonics company through portfolio changes, and spoke about the corporate culture, which he believes is a basic prerequisite for a successful strategy and which he has always been keen to develop further. He thanked everyone who had accompanied him on his journey at Jenoptik.

Mario Voigt, Minister President of Thuringia, and Jena’s Lord Mayor Thomas Nitzsche also thanked Stefan Traeger for his successful work in further developing Jenoptik and for his corporate leadership and personality. They particularly highlighted Stefan Traeger’s courage and foresight in being one of the first German CEOs to actively promote open-mindedness and democratic values.

Prisca Havranek-Kosicek and Ralf Kuschnereit, who will take over the leadership of Jenoptik as a duo on February 16, offered an optimistic outlook for the current year. They also thanked Stefan Traeger and pointed to Jenoptik’s very good positioning, which remains solid even in the current difficult market conditions.

In her speech, Daniela Mattheus, who has chaired the Jenoptik Supervisory Board since late 2025, noted that Stefan Traeger is handing over a company with substance and ambition. She thanked him and former Supervisory Board Chairman Matthias Wierlacher for their work in transforming Jenoptik in recent years.

The 33rd Jenoptik New Year’s Reception in Jena was accompanied by brass players from the Jena Philharmonic Orchestra and a large-scale projection by light artist Robert Seidel. He is the current Artist in Residence at the Jena Philharmonic Orchestra, for which Stefan Traeger is the patron and which is supported by Jenoptik. As part of this partnership, concerts by the Jena Philharmonic Orchestra feature light projections.

This year’s New Year’s donation initiative for the “Musicians in Schools” project has raised almost €1,400 so far, and further donations are welcome. Jenoptik and the Philharmonic Society would like to express their sincere thanks to all donors!

Images are available for download from the Jenoptik image database.