Karsten Petry will become the new board member for marketing and sales at VfB Stuttgart on July 1, 2026, the club confirmed on Tuesday.
Petry, 50, joins VfB from the Deutsche Sporthilfe foundation, where he served as the board member for marketing, sales, and events since 2021. At Deutsche Sporthilfe, he restructured the organization, refined its positioning, and significantly advanced its marketing efforts, according to the club’s announcement.
The appointment fills a vacancy left by Rouven Kasper, who departed VfB Stuttgart in January 2026 to seize a position as a board member at FC Bayern Munich. Dietmar Allgaier, President and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of VfB Stuttgart, stated that Petry is “the ideal person” to further develop the club’s marketing and sales activities.
“With his broad experience and extensive network, as well as his personality and motivation, he has convinced us,” Allgaier said.
Prior to his role at Deutsche Sporthilfe, Petry held leadership positions at international sports marketing agency Octagon, where he served as the head of Germany and was part of the European leadership team. He likewise held roles at sports sponsorship agency akzio! (now Sportfive) and as Head of Corporate Sponsoring at Commerzbank.
VfB Stuttgart recently rejoined the Deloitte Football Money League, ranking 18th in the 2024/25 season – marking its return to the list for the first time since the 2009/10 season. The club’s revenue growth is seen as a key factor in the decision to strengthen its marketing and sales leadership.
The supervisory board’s decision follows a period of change within VfB’s board structure, including the previous departures of both Finance Director Dr. Thomas Ignatzi and Marketing Director Rouven Kasper. CEO Alexander Wehrle is currently overseeing the finance department, with the appointment of Petry completing the restructuring of the board.
