Dirk Zingler Remains President, Executive Board Expanded.

Dirk Zingler has led the operational management of 1. FC Union Berlin as president since July 2004. Under his leadership, the economic stabilisation of the financially troubled club was followed by a sporting upturn that led from the fourth-tier Oberliga to the Bundesliga, which Union have been part of since 2019. This is the longest phase of top-flight membership in the club's history, which also saw qualification for the UEFA Europa Conference League (2021), the UEFA Europa League (2022), and the UEFA Champions League (2023).

This ran alongisde infrastructural developments, milestones of which being the stadium renovation in 2008/09, the construction of the main stand in 2012/13, and the establishment of the Oberspree training centre (TZO) for the club's youth academies (2023/24). The start of construction for the joint training centre serving both the women's and men's professional teams is planned for 2025, before the stadium expansion begins.

"The next four years will shape 1. FC Union Berlin in the long term. Significant decisions need to be made to secure the professional football facilities around the Alte Försterei for future generations," said Thomas Koch, chairman of the supervisory board. "Therefore, we are very pleased that Dirk Zingler is available for a new term and look forward to continued cooperation with him and his team in the presidency."

Jörg Hinze will no longer be part of the presidium. The entrepreneur was first appointed to the operational leadership body in January 2007 and will leave at the end of the current term.

“I would like to sincerely thank Jörg for the many years of working together. He has always proven to be a reliable ally for 1. FC Union Berlin, and has ensured, with great personal commitment, that Union has survived one of the most economically challenging phases in the club's history. He is one of those people without whom our club would not exist in its current form,” said Dirk Zingler. “We will properly honour this extraordinary commitment at the next members' meeting.”

“It has been an honour for me to take on responsibility for our club at a challenging time. I believe that in recent years we have managed to make and implement many right decisions together. I look back on that with great pride and will of course remain closely connected to Union,” said Hinze, who will continue to be actively involved with Union as the deputy chairman of the Economic Council of 1. FC Union e.V. Furthermore, he will remain an important partner alongside the club with his steel company.

Dirk Zingler has proposed to the Supervisory Board to expand the Executive Committee to the statutory possible seven members at the beginning of the new term on July 1, 2025. In addition to the current members Dirk Thieme, Oskar Kosche, and Lutz Munack, the Executive Committee will in the future also include Katharina Kienemann, managing director of "Alte Försterei" Veranstaltungs GmbH, Jennifer Zietz, director of women's professional football at 1. FC Union Berlin, and Christian Arbeit, director of communication at the club. The Supervisory Board has approved this proposal.

Zingler explains: "With the new composition of the Executive Committee, I want to place the leadership of the club on a broader basis and involve three new members and thus new perspectives alongside proven and familiar colleagues. We face fundamental decisions for the future of 1. FC Union Berlin, which I will tackle with my colleagues with full commitment."

The new term of the presidency officially begins on 1 July 2025 and ends on 30 June 2029.