Deutsche Telekom's Technology Leadership in Transition

Deutsche Telekom's tech chief Abdurazak Mudesir will leave in 2026. CFO Christian Illek will take over the tech portfolio temporarily as the company seeks a permanent successor.

A significant change is underway in Deutsche Telekom's executive suite. The company's Board Member for Technology and Innovation, Abdurazak Mudesir, will be stepping down from his role. His departure, set for March 31, 2026, is at his own request to pursue a new professional opportunity abroad. The Supervisory Board has already approved the early termination of his contract.

Interim Leadership and Strategic Timing

Effective April 1, 2026, Chief Financial Officer Christian Illek will assume temporary responsibility for the technology portfolio in addition to his current finance duties. Mudesir, who joined the telecom giant in 2018, has been widely recognized as a driving force behind the group's product strategy and its push for innovation.

The search for a permanent successor is now open, arriving at a strategically sensitive moment. Key initiatives demanding strong technical leadership—including the ongoing 5G network rollout, the aggressive expansion of fiber-optic infrastructure, and the integration of artificial intelligence—remain top priorities for the company.

Operational Continuity Amid Change

Day-to-day operations continue unaffected. Just this week, Deutsche Telekom launched a new fiber-optic project in Achsheim, Bavaria, which is slated to provide gigabit-speed internet to approximately 471 households in the area.

Two upcoming corporate events will now be watched closely by investors. The company's Annual General Meeting is scheduled for April 1, 2026, immediately following Mudesir's exit. This will be followed by the release of Q1 2026 financial results on May 13. Market observers expect the question of permanently filling the technology leadership position to be a key topic of discussion by then, if not sooner.