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Dr. Hess-Grunewald will not stand for re-election as president
10/08/26 | 4 Min
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After 12 years at the helm of SV Werder Bremen, Dr. Hubertus Hess-Grunewald has decided not to stand for re-election as president at the general meeting in November 2026. “I have made a very conscious decision with complete conviction. A Werder president should be able to decide for themselves when the right time has come to hand over responsibility. For me, that time is now,” explained the 65-year-old. Once the executive committee has appointed a new representative, the Werder honorary member will also step down as chairman of the supervisory board of SV Werder Bremen GmbH & Co KG aA.
“Over the past 12 years, I have carried out my duties as president with great pride, but also with the necessary humility that comes with such a significant responsibility. Looking ahead to the future, I kept asking myself one question: what is best for Werder? Because nothing and no one is bigger than the club. After careful consideration and extensive discussions with my family and those close to me, I came to the decision not to put myself forward for re-election. It was not an easy decision to make, but it is the right one for SV Werder,” explained Dr. Hubertus Hess-Grunewald.
“There are some exciting challenges ahead, both for the club itself and in its role as majority shareholder in the company. These include further changes to the club’s structures, particularly giving members a greater say and creating more opportunities for them to be involved. Those are challenges that need to be taken on by someone who can commit to a full term in office. I would not have been able to do that. After more than 30 years of working for the club, I can feel that my energy is gradually running out, and I could only have seen myself continuing as president for another two years. Fresh ideas, new perspectives and renewed energy will benefit both the club and the company. To me, leadership is not just about taking responsibility. It is also about recognising when the time is right to hand that responsibility on.”
Dr. Hubertus Hess-Grunewald is confident he is handing over that responsibility with the club in a strong position: “Werder has come through some difficult years, is back on a more stable financial footing, is growing as a member-owned club and has launched important projects for the future. Together, we have guided the club through challenging times and laid important foundations for what lies ahead. We can be proud of what we have achieved together. A change in leadership should come when the next person can build on solid foundations. That is the position we are in now.”
Dr. Hubertus Hess-Grunewald will, however, continue to follow SV Werder closely after stepping down: “I have been fortunate enough to experience the development of SV Werder Bremen up close for more than half a century, and to play an active part in shaping it for over 30 of those years. Having the opportunity to serve in this role has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. To borrow the words of the great Pico Schütz: I am and always will be a Werderaner!”
Dr. Hubertus Hess-Grunewald has been a member of Sport-Verein „Werder“ von 1899 e. V. since 1970. He served as vice-president from 2003 to 2014 before being elected president. The lawyer has also sat on the supervisory board of the club since 1999 and that of SV Werder Bremen GmbH & Co KG aA since 2003, serving as chairman of the latter since 2023. He had previously been deputy chairman of the board from 2005 to 2014. From 2015 to 2022, he was also a member of the management team at SV Werder Bremen GmbH & Co KG aA.
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