Celia Pelaz Appointed CEO of "Defence & New Space" at Schaeffler

Celia Pelaz is set to become the CEO of Schaeffler's "Defence & New Space" effective October 1, 2026. With over 25 years of experience in the defense and space sectors, Pelaz previously held the position of COO at Spire Global, Inc. Schaeffler's new division, STech Defence GmbH, based in Munich, focuses on defense and new space initiatives, signifying its strategic importance for the company.

STech Defence GmbH is an independent subsidiary aiming to be a leading partner in the European defense and space industries. Leveraging Schaeffler's extensive capabilities, it aims to develop innovative solutions. Manfred Homm will join as CTO, while the CFO position is currently interimly held by Dr. Christopher Köth.

CEO Klaus Rosenfeld expressed confidence in Pelaz’s leadership to expand Schaeffler's defense and space business, aligning with its growth strategy to achieve a 10% revenue share in new growth areas by 2035.