Leading German executives to discuss industrial AI, trade uncertainty, cross-border cooperation
By Business & Finance Desk
Some of Germany’s most influential corporate leaders head to Seoul this week for the Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business 2026, bringing together executives across manufacturing, logistics, finance, pharmaceuticals and defense.
Running Oct. 29 to 31, the conference comes as German businesses reassess their strategies in Asia amid geopolitical tensions, shifting trade policies and intensifying competition in advanced technologies.
Hosting the gathering offers South Korea an opportunity to strengthen industrial partnerships with Germany, Europe’s largest economy, as both countries pursue more resilient supply chains and new sources of growth.
Industrial artificial intelligence, energy transition, corporate financing and defense cooperation are among the major issues on the agenda. German companies are also looking to navigate a changing global trade environment while expanding technological and commercial ties across the Asia-Pacific region.
The conference will feature senior executives from some of Germany’s best-known corporations, including Siemens, DHL Group, BASF, Deutsche Bank and Thyssenkrupp, alongside leaders from the pharmaceutical, automotive and aerospace industries.
Representing the Korean business community is Naver CEO Choi Soo-yeon, whose company is expanding its AI infrastructure and digital services businesses.
Their backgrounds reflect the breadth of German-Asian economic relations, from established industrial and financial networks to emerging partnerships in AI and advanced manufacturing.
Here are nine business leaders to watch at APK 2026 in Seoul.
Tobias Meyer — CEO, DHL Group
Tobias Meyer has led German logistics giant DHL Group since May 2023, overseeing one of the world’s largest international delivery and supply chain networks.
Trained in mechanical and industrial engineering, Meyer joined DHL in 2013 after 12 years at McKinsey & Company, where he worked in Frankfurt and Singapore. He went on to hold senior positions in corporate development, freight forwarding and postal operations before joining DHL’s board of management in 2019.
Under his leadership, DHL has moved from Strategy 2025 to Strategy 2030, focusing on targeted growth and resilience amid volatile global trade conditions. His contract was extended in March through March 2031. The group reported revenue of 82.9 billion euros ($92.6 billion) and operating profit of 6.1 billion euros in 2025.
At APK 2026, Meyer is expected to address how German companies can navigate geopolitical and trade uncertainty, with particular emphasis on resilient supply chains and adapting business strategies to changing trade scenarios.
Shashank Deshpande — CEO, Boehringer Ingelheim
Shashank Deshpande became chairman of Boehringer Ingelheim’s board of managing directors in 2025, while continuing to lead its Human Pharma business. He is the first non-family member to head the privately held German pharmaceutical company.
Deshpande joined Boehringer Ingelheim in 2012 after a decade in marketing and strategy roles at Sanofi in the United States and Germany. He initially worked on the diabetes medicine Trajenta before taking senior positions in Japan, where he oversaw diabetes marketing, specialty care and pharmaceutical operations.
He became the company’s country managing director for Japan in 2022 and joined its board in 2024. His current priorities include new drug launches and pipeline development in cardiometabolic diseases, cancer and obesity, including the company’s obesity treatment candidate survodutide.
At APK 2026, Deshpande is expected to discuss the role of artificial intelligence and technological innovation in transforming pharmaceuticals and manufacturing across the Asia-Pacific region.
Roland Busch — CEO, Siemens AG; APA chairman
Roland Busch has served as president and CEO of Siemens since February 2021 and chairs the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business, or APA, making him a central figure at APK 2026.
A physicist with a doctorate from Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Busch joined Siemens in 1994 in corporate research and development. His career has included senior positions in automotive technology, Asian operations and corporate leadership, including chief technology officer and chief operating officer.
He also led Siemens VDO Automotive’s Asia-Pacific operations from Shanghai, gaining direct experience in one of the company’s most important regional markets.
At Siemens, Busch is advancing industrial AI, digital twins and the integration of automation, electrification and digital technologies to improve manufacturing productivity and efficiency.
At APK 2026, he is expected to highlight opportunities for German and Asia-Pacific companies, including Korean manufacturers, to deepen technological cooperation and accelerate industrial transformation.
Miguel Angel Lopez Borrego — CEO, Thyssenkrupp
Miguel Angel Lopez Borrego has led German industrial conglomerate Thyssenkrupp since June 2023, overseeing its transformation across steel, automotive technology, materials services and decarbonization technologies.
A business administration graduate of Berufsakademie Mannheim, he also holds an international MBA. His career spans corporate finance, industrial automation and renewable energy, with senior leadership experience at several major European manufacturers.
Before joining Thyssenkrupp, Lopez Borrego held senior financial positions at Siemens, including CFO roles at its Digital Factory division and Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy. He later served as president and CEO of Siemens Spain and headed industrial supplier Norma Group.
At Thyssenkrupp, he oversees corporate strategy, markets and portfolio management, alongside responsibility for the Asia-Pacific and Africa region.
At APK 2026, Lopez Borrego is scheduled to join a session on corporate financing in Asia, examining how companies can manage geopolitical risks, investment challenges and financing strategies in an increasingly uncertain business environment.
Michael Schollhorn — CEO, Airbus Defence and Space
Michael Schollhorn has served as CEO of Airbus Defence and Space since July 2021, overseeing the European aerospace group’s military aircraft, satellite, space systems and defense-related technology businesses.
A former helicopter pilot in the German Armed Forces, Schollhorn holds a doctorate in control engineering. He built much of his industrial career at Bosch and household appliance manufacturer BSH Hausgerate before joining Airbus as chief operating officer in 2019.
His background combines military experience with industrial management, positioning him at the intersection of defense technology, manufacturing and international security cooperation.
At Airbus Defence and Space, Schollhorn oversees businesses involved in military aviation, space technology, unmanned systems and intelligence capabilities, areas attracting growing investment amid heightened geopolitical tensions.
At APK 2026, he is expected to address defense-industrial cooperation and strategic security partnerships between Europe and Asia, including opportunities involving South Korea’s expanding aerospace and defense industries, supply chain resilience and Indo-Pacific security.
Markus Kamieth — CEO, BASF
Markus Kamieth has led BASF, one of the world’s largest chemical producers, since April 2024, overseeing a corporate restructuring aimed at improving competitiveness and profitability.
A chemist by training, Kamieth holds a doctorate in organic chemistry from the University of Essen and joined BASF in 1999. His career has included leadership roles in specialty chemicals, coatings and regional operations across Europe, North America and Asia.
He became president of BASF’s global coatings division in 2012 and joined the executive board in 2017. From 2020, he was based in Hong Kong, overseeing the company’s Asian operations.
Under its Winning Ways strategy, introduced in 2024, BASF is streamlining operations, sharpening its business portfolio and pursuing cost reductions while integrating sustainability into its operations.
At APK 2026, Kamieth is scheduled to discuss how German multinational companies are adapting to geopolitical uncertainty, changing trade policies and shifting investment conditions, bringing the perspective of a global chemicals manufacturer.
Klaus Rosenfeld — CEO, Schaeffler
Klaus Rosenfeld has led German automotive and industrial technology supplier Schaeffler since October 2014, steering its expansion into electric mobility and advanced drive systems.
Rosenfeld began his career at Dresdner Bank, where he spent 16 years in financial management before joining Schaeffler as chief financial officer in March 2009, during the global financial crisis. He helped oversee the debt-laden company’s restructuring before becoming CEO.
Under his leadership, Schaeffler completed its initial public offering in 2015 and pursued a strategic shift toward electrification, automation and advanced mobility technologies, including its merger with Vitesco Technologies.
Rosenfeld also holds leadership positions in major German industry associations, including the Federation of German Industries and the German Association of the Automotive Industry.
At APK 2026, his participation highlights opportunities for cooperation between German automotive suppliers and Korean manufacturers in electric vehicles, batteries, industrial automation and more resilient automotive supply chains.
Christian Sewing — CEO, Deutsche Bank
Christian Sewing has served as CEO of Deutsche Bank, Germany’s largest bank, since April 2018, leading its restructuring and efforts to strengthen profitability.
Sewing began his banking career in 1989 as an apprentice in Bielefeld and subsequently worked in major financial centers including Frankfurt, London, Singapore, Tokyo and Toronto. Before becoming CEO, he held senior positions spanning retail banking, risk management, internal audit and credit operations.
He joined Deutsche Bank’s management board in 2015 and also serves as president of the Association of German Banks, giving him a prominent role in Germany’s financial industry.
His experience in international banking and corporate restructuring is particularly relevant as German businesses navigate geopolitical risks, financing pressures and changing trade relationships across Asia.
At APK 2026, Sewing is expected to address cross-border financing and financial cooperation between Germany and the Asia-Pacific region. Deutsche Bank will also host the conference’s official opening welcome reception at The Shilla Seoul on Thursday.
Choi Soo-yeon — CEO, Naver
Choi Soo-yeon has served as president and CEO of Naver since March 2022, leading the Korean internet company’s expansion across artificial intelligence, commerce, cloud computing and digital services.
Choi began her career in public relations and marketing at NHN, Naver’s predecessor, in 2005 before studying law at Yonsei University. She joined Korean law firm Yulchon in 2012 and later earned a Master of Laws degree from Harvard Law School.
Returning to Naver in 2019, she headed global business support before becoming CEO. Under her leadership, Naver expanded into North American e-commerce through its acquisition of Poshmark and introduced its proprietary HyperCLOVA X AI platform.
She was appointed to the United Nations Global Compact board in September 2025, reflecting her involvement in responsible AI and international digital cooperation.
At APK 2026, Choi is scheduled to participate in the Tech Dialogue on Industrial AI on Saturday, bringing a Korean technology perspective to discussions on industrial innovation and German-Asian business cooperation.
sahn@heraldcorp.com