Thyssenkrupp AG has appointed Dr. Marie Jaroni as the new CEO of its steel division Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG effective November 1, 2025 — a move signaling the next stage in the group’s restructuring of its legacy steel business. Jaroni, who previously led the decarbonization and technology transformation programs, becomes the first woman to head Germany’s largest steelmaker.

Her appointment follows the resignation of Dennis Grimm, who reportedly clashed with group CEO Miguel López over the strategic direction of the division. López has been under increasing pressure from shareholders to unlock value by separating or selling the steel operations, long seen as a structural burden on the conglomerate’s balance sheet.

At the same time, Indian conglomerate Jindal Steel International has entered due diligence on a potential acquisition of a major stake in Thyssenkrupp’s steel business. According to Reuters and The Economic Times of India, the talks have advanced to a deep-review stage, though unresolved issues — notably €2.7 billion in pension liabilities — remain a sticking point.

Industry observers note that Jaroni’s mandate will likely combine operational stabilization with navigating a possible transaction. Her background in sustainable steel production and green-hydrogen initiatives may also serve as a bridge between Thyssenkrupp’s industrial heritage and its energy-transition ambitions.

If the Jindal deal materializes, it would mark one of the most significant Indo-German industrial tie-ups in recent decades, potentially reshaping the European steel landscape.