Michael Leiters is a distinguished German automotive executive and the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche AG. He assumed the leadership of Porsche in January 2026, succeeding Oliver Blume. With more than three decades of experience across Porsche, Ferrari and McLaren, he brings extensive expertise in vehicle engineering, product development, technology, manufacturing and automotive business transformation.
Born on 12 August 1971 in Essen, Germany, Michael Leiters studied Mechanical Engineering at Ruhr University Bochum and RWTH Aachen. He completed his doctorate in engineering at the Werkzeugmaschinenlabor of RWTH Aachen University in 2000.
Michael Leiters began his professional career in 1996 at the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology in Aachen, working in planning and organization before becoming head of the department. In 2000, he joined Porsche, beginning a long association with the company that included roles in continuous improvement, executive management, hybrid vehicle development and product-line leadership.
At Porsche, he was closely involved with the development of the Cayenne and Macan product lines and became Director of the SUV product line in 2010. His experience at Porsche gave him deep expertise in product strategy, engineering and the development of high-performance premium vehicles.
In 2014, Michael Leiters joined Ferrari as Chief Technology Officer, a position he held until 2022. He subsequently became CEO of McLaren Automotive, serving from 2022 to 2025. His leadership across these iconic performance-car manufacturers broadened his international experience in technology, engineering, product development and luxury automotive strategy.
As CEO of Porsche AG, Michael Leiters is leading the company through a significant period of strategic realignment. His priorities include strengthening the Porsche brand, maintaining product excellence, improving operational performance, focusing on the company’s core business and responding to changing global automotive markets.
Michael Leiters brings a strong combination of engineering expertise, product development, technology leadership and luxury automotive experience. His return to Porsche marks a new chapter in his career, as he focuses on strengthening the company’s products, performance and long-term position in the global premium automotive market.
