United Internet AG has announced a change at the top of its finance organization. Chief Financial Officer Carsten Theurer will leave the company on December 31, 2026, when his contract expires, according to a press release distributed via NEWMEDIAWIRE. The Supervisory Board has appointed Andre Driesen as his successor, effective November 1, 2026.
Theurer’s departure is at his own request. The Supervisory Board and CEO Ralph Dommermuth expressed regret over the decision. Philipp von Bismarck, speaking for the Supervisory Board, thanked Theurer for “the excellent and trusting cooperation over the past years” and credited him with playing a key role in developing the Group’s finance organization, providing impetus for corporate governance, capital market communications, and Group-wide shared service structures and systems.
In his own comments, Theurer thanked the Supervisory Board and Dommermuth for their trust and called his time on the Management Board “a special and highly rewarding task.” He said he believes United Internet is “very well positioned for its further development” and looks forward to applying his experience in new entrepreneurial contexts. He will remain connected to the Group as a member of the Supervisory Board of IONOS Group SE.
The appointment of Andre Driesen brings deep institutional knowledge to the CFO role. Driesen has many years of experience in finance, corporate management, and mergers and acquisitions. He previously served as CFO of Drillisch AG and then of 1&1 Drillisch AG, supporting major strategic transactions and the merger of Drillisch and 1&1 through the end of 2019. His long tenure within the Group means he is familiar with United Internet’s structures and key business fields. In recent years, he worked as an independent consultant and held supervisory positions.
United Internet said that with Driesen’s appointment it is “consistently continuing the organizational development of the Group and the focusing of its holding company functions.” The transition is significant because United Internet is one of Europe’s leading internet specialists, with over 30 million fee-based customer contracts and more than 38 million ad-financed free accounts. It operates a high-performance “Internet Factory” with around 10,400 employees and owns well-known brands such as 1&1, IONOS, STRATO, GMX, and WEB.DE.
For a company of that scale, a CFO change can affect investor confidence, capital markets strategy, and the pace of internal integration. Theurer’s exit at the end of 2026 and Driesen’s start a year earlier, on November 1, 2026, suggest a deliberate handover period designed to maintain stability. Driesen’s background in M&A and his familiarity with the Group’s operations may help United Internet continue streamlining its holding functions while pursuing strategic transactions. The announcement was first reported on www.newmediawire.com.
