Thursday, August 13, 2026

BARMER CEO Christoph Straub to step down at the end of 2026

BARMER is preparing a change at the top of its executive board. Prof. Dr. Christoph Straub will step down as chairman of the board on 31 December 2026. According to the health insurer, the decision is based on personal reasons. Straub plans to take on new professional responsibilities.

The administrative board approved Straub’s request at a meeting in Berlin, releasing him from his board duties before the regular end of his contract. Straub has led BARMER as chairman for more than 15 years.

Schwering and Repschläger to lead the board

The future executive board is set to consist of Simone Schwering, currently deputy chairwoman, and Uwe Repschläger, who will move up from his role as head of a business division.

The administrative board plans to decide on the exact division of responsibilities and the chair of the executive board at the end of the year.

Long-standing management experience

Schwering has been a member of BARMER’s executive board since November 2021 and has served as deputy chairwoman since January 2023. Her current remit includes human resources, corporate management and information technology.

Repschläger, an economist, has held various senior roles at BARMER for many years. With one interruption, he has been part of the insurer’s top management team since 1998. His current responsibilities include finance, controlling, and outpatient and inpatient care. He is also managing director of the BARMER Institute for Health Systems Research.

Administrative board acknowledges Straub’s role

The administrative board emphasized Straub’s contribution to the development of the health insurer. Its chairwoman, Sylvi Krisch, pointed to his standing as a recognized healthcare expert and to BARMER’s stable economic position.

Straub has spent a total of 25 years in executive board roles at three organizations in the German healthcare sector. According to BARMER, he intends to remain closely connected to healthcare and take on new tasks in the future.

BARMER provides further information on Simone Schwering and Uwe Repschläger on its website.