The management teams at S-Bahn Berlin, Munich, and Stuttgart have been replaced, along with other Deutsche Bahn subsidiaries, as part of the German company’s new restructuring plan, initiated by its new CEO, Evelyn Palla.
As a result, the supervisory board of S-Bahn Berlin has appointed Heiko Büttner as the new CEO. He will officially take up the post on April 1, 2026. His previous position as head of S-Bahn Munich will be filled by Matthias Glaub, who is thus returning from Stuttgart to the Bavarian capital. In Stuttgart, Nina Hutwagner becomes the new chair of the S-Bahn management board.
Changes are also taking place at the regional management level of DB Regio Schiene. Heike Junge-Latz is taking over regional management for Baden-Württemberg, and in North Rhine-Westphalia, Markus Kaupper is taking over the position.
“The S-Bahn Berlin, Munich, and Stuttgart transport around two and a half million passengers every day and shape mobility in the metropolitan regions. Whether it’s new transport contracts, digital train operation, or the introduction of new vehicles, important milestones are planned in all three cities that will influence the S-Bahn for decades to come.
With Heiko Büttner, Matthias Glaub, and Nina Hutwagner, we are relying on recognized experts who will guide the three S-Bahn systems into the future with experience and responsibility,” said Nicole Berlin, member of the DB Regio Schiene board.
New directors at S-Bahn Berlin, Munich, and Stuttgart
Heiko Büttner has been with Deutsche Bahn (DB) for almost three decades, holding various management positions in the DB Regio and DB Vertrieb divisions.
Büttner has been managing S-Bahn München since 2017, during which time he successfully completed Munich’s first S-Bahn contract with the Free State of Bavaria. This contract laid the foundation for the introduction of new XXL trains, the construction of two new factories, and the establishment of a new operational control center.
Since 2024, Büttner has also been appointed as the DB Group’s representative for the state of Bavaria, but he will also be leaving this position. No decision has yet been made regarding his successor in this position.
With regard to S-Bahn Berlin, following the death of long-time CEO Peter Buchner in November 2025, Karsten Preißel, Director of Production, has temporarily taken over the role of Chairman of the Management Board.
“Büttner’s career path highlights his solid experience in urban transport network management and his involvement in the modernization and expansion of S-Bahn services in Germany,” DB states.
Matthias Glaub has been with DB for more than two decades, holding expert and management positions at DB Cargo, DB Netz, and DB Vertrieb. For seven years, he was responsible for managing the human resources department at S-Bahn München.
In Stuttgart, he led S-Bahn as chairman of the management board, successfully bringing the service back to a full schedule through an effective recruitment campaign. He also conducted the first tests with S-Bahn trains equipped with ETCS and automated high control, marking an important step towards the implementation of the future digital train operating system.
His experience combines operational management and human resources skills, contributing significantly to the modernization of S-Bahn networks and their preparation for digital and automated operation.
Nina Hutwagner has been with DB for 15 years. Most recently, she headed the timetable and traffic control department in Frankfurt am Main, responsible for managing train traffic across the entire long-distance transport network and its strategic development. She also represented the interests of long-distance transport in the “Taskforce for a Reliable Railway” convened by the Federal Ministry of Transport.
Her extensive experience in organizing the daily operation of long-distance traffic gives her a deep understanding of the operational requirements for the Stuttgart S-Bahn. In addition, thanks to the pioneering role of long-distance transport in the use of the ETCS system on high-speed lines, Nina Hutwagner has the expertise required for the transition to the Digital Stuttgart Node (DKS) and the modernization of the digital control of the local urban train network.
She combines strategic and operational skills with technical knowledge to prepare the Stuttgart S-Bahn network for a digital and automated future.
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