- Contract extension for Gottfried Neumeister until December 31, 2028
- Confirmation following change of control by Bajaj
- Focus on motorcycle business and operational restructuring of the KTM Group
After months of economic uncertainty, there are clear signs of continuity at KTM and its parent company PIERER Mobility AG. CEO Gottfried Neumeister’s contract has been extended ahead of schedule. The new majority owner Bajaj is thus focusing on stability in corporate management and underlining the independence of the group under Indian leadership.
Continuity at the top after change of control
In January 2025, Gottfried Neumeister took over the role of CEO from Stefan Pierer. He had previously been Co-CEO since September 2024. Following the change of control on November 18, the new majority owner Bajaj has now officially confirmed that Neumeister will remain at the helm for the long term.
PIERER Mobility AG, which will operate under the name Bajaj Mobility AG in the future, sees this as a clear sign of strategic independence. At the same time, Neumeister will also remain CEO of KTM AG.
Confidence of the supervisory board and clear expectations
Supervisory Board Chairman Srinivasan Ravikumar expressly praises the Austrian’s work to date:
“Gottfried Neumeister took on responsibility during a very difficult phase, resolutely faced the challenges and achieved extraordinary things. In doing so, he has made a significant contribution to stabilizing KTM and setting the course for the future.”
The contract extension until the end of 2028 is seen as recognition for his crisis management to date and is also intended to create planning security for the coming years.
Focus on motorcycle business and restructuring
Neumeister himself emphasizes that the focus is now on the operational implementation of the strategy that has been pursued. This involves simplifying processes and consistently concentrating activities on the motorcycle market. In order to focus fully on this task and the restructuring of the KTM Group, he intends to relinquish all functions outside the Bajaj Group in the near future.
“I greatly appreciate the trust placed in me. Together with my new colleagues on the Executive Board, I would like to put KTM back on a clear growth path and thus strengthen the trust of our partners, customers, dealers, and suppliers in the long term.”
Impact on motorsports and MotoGP involvement
With the backing of the new majority owner, continued involvement in international motorsports is also considered more likely. The focus is particularly on the MotoGP project. As with Honda, Yamaha, Ducati, and Aprilia, planning is underway for the period from 2027 to 2031. Discussions with rights holder and marketer Dorna Sports are expected to be concluded by next spring at the latest.
Signal of stability for the Mattighofen location
For motorcycle manufacturer KTM, which has been based in Mattighofen since 1953, the decision means one thing above all else: calm and continuity after a period of economic turmoil. With a CEO confirmed until the end of 2028 and clear ownership structures, the course has been set for the coming years.
