Evotec Appoints New Chairman as Share Price Slide Deepens and Transformation Plan Lifts Off

New supervisory board chair Dieter Weinand faces a tough turnaround after a 36.78% yearly stock decline, with Evotec's Horizon plan and €116M convertible bond adding pressure.

Dieter Weinand has taken the helm of Evotec’s supervisory board at a critical juncture, inheriting a stock that has shed more than a third of its value over the past twelve months and a shareholder base hungry for a credible turnaround story. The appointment came during the company’s annual general meeting in Hamburg, where all agenda items received shareholder approval — a vote of confidence that nonetheless leaves the biotech firm with little room for error.

Weinand replaces Professor Dr. Iris Löw-Friedrich as chair, stepping in alongside newly elected board member Dr. Wolfgang Hofmann. The supervisory body is also expanding from six to seven seats, a move designed to inject additional independent expertise as Evotec navigates its “Horizon” transformation strategy unveiled in March 2026. Returning members Dr. Duncan McHale and Wesley Wheeler were re-elected, while the meeting recorded a turnout of 43.10% of the company’s share capital.

The market’s reaction so far has been muted. Evotec shares traded at €4.62 on the day, barely above the previous close, and remain a long way from the 52-week high of €7.75. Over the past year the stock has fallen 36.78%, with a year-to-date decline of 16.62%. Technical indicators paint a bleak picture: the 50-day moving average stands at €5.03 and the 200-day average at €5.61, both well above the current price. The relative strength index of 38.8 is hovering just above oversold territory, while annualized 30-day volatility has surged to 45.26%, underscoring the anxiety surrounding the name.

Weinand’s arrival is closely linked to the “Horizon” programme, which aims to sharpen operational efficiency, strengthen Evotec’s position in drug discovery technology, and ultimately return the company to profitability. To fund that ambition, Evotec placed a convertible bond worth roughly €116 million in May 2026 — a debt-financed bet that adds a layer of risk for investors already nursing steep losses.

The dual challenge of restoring market confidence and executing a complex transformation now rests on the new chairman’s shoulders. The AGM’s unanimous backing suggests the board has secured a period of goodwill, but with the stock trading far below its key moving averages and the convertible bond looming as both a tool and a potential drag, the next quarterly results will be the first real test of whether Weinand can turn the narrative around.