When Alexander Wehrle enters a room, everyone present immediately senses positive energy. That’s how it was when started his job as VfB CEO in March 2022. The club was financially stricken by Covid losses and was in a difficult sporting position, with relegation to Bundesliga 2 looming. However, it’s not in Wehrle’s nature to freeze like a rabbit in the headlights during difficult situations. For him, the relegation battle at the end of the 2021/22 season was more a chance to stay in the Bundesliga than danger of dropping into the second division. His constant belief in survival and the optimism he spread may not have won any duels on the pitch or scored any goals, but it was and is uplifting and infectious, just like his excessive celebration after the last-minute goal to clinch safety against his former club, 1. FC Köln. A whole region was behind its club again – and is doing so with euphoria to this day.
The 50-year-old tackles problems head-on and delivers solutions. What tactics on the pitch are to a head coach, the strategic direction of the club is to Wehrle. Which aims are VfB pursuing, how and when can they be achieved – these questions are the focus for him. And over the last three years, the Swabian-born CEO, who was also the board member responsible for sport until 1 July 2024, has worked with his executive team to turn VfB from relegation candidates into a financially resurgent club and successful football team.
So far in his tenure, important sporting appointments have been made such as those of Fabian Wohlgemuth and Sebastian Hoeneß. Just recently, Wehrle and the board extended the head coach’s contract until 2028. In terms of infrastructure, VfB now boasts one of the most modern stadiums in Europe in the MHP Arena, following the reconstruction of the main stand last year.
Furthermore, Wehrle helped to initiate and launch the global brand alliance. Strong partners such as Mercedes-Benz and Porsche stand together with fellow shareholder Jako at the side of the Cannstatt club. However, VfB not only has a strong partner structure with many global players from the region, but is also deeply rooted in the region itself and at the same time has international ambitions. This manifests itself, among other things, in the VfB Foundation, which was established in 2023 and in which the club brings together its social commitment and puts people at the centre – regardless of age, origin or religion.
Wehrle, who has deep roots with his native region, has deliberately embedded VfB more strongly in the city of Stuttgart and the whole of Baden-Württemberg, making it more accessible again. The club now has a presence at traditional events such as the Stuttgart Spring Festival, the Cannstatter Wasen and the Stuttgarter Weindorf, as well as at future-oriented projects like the IPAI in Heilbronn, which is regarded as one of the most innovative AI innovation ecosystems in Europe. Protecting tradition while shaping the future: that’s also what Wehrle stands for. He will continue to tackle this endeavour in the coming years as CEO of Baden-Württemberg's largest club – as always, proactively, strategically and with infectious optimism.