Schaeffler appoints Celia Pelaz as CEO of Defence & New Space division
Celia Pelaz, a veteran of the European defense and space industry, will become CEO of Schaeffler's newly formed Defence & New Space division on October 1, 2026.
October 1, 2026
10%
What Happened
Schaeffler has named Celia Pelaz as the CEO of its new 'Defence & New Space' division, effective October 1, 2026. Pelaz currently serves as COO at Spire Global and brings over 25 years of experience in the defense and aerospace industries. She will lead the STech Defence GmbH, a subsidiary founded in late 2025, which focuses on defense and New Space solutions.
“We are very pleased to have won Celia Pelaz, one of the most distinguished and experienced managers in the European defense and space industry, for Schaeffler. With her experience and leadership, she will make an important contribution to building up and expanding Schaeffler's defense and space business and shaping this important new growth field for the future.”
10%
Schaeffler targets 10% of total revenue from areas including humanoid robotics, defense, and New Space.
Why this matters
This appointment underscores Schaeffler's strategic expansion into defense and space, aiming to generate 10% of its revenue from new growth fields like these by 2035.
Terms in This Story
- New Space
- A term for the commercialization of space activities, including satellite data, analytics, and space exploration, driven by private companies rather than government agencies.
- Carve-Out
- The separation of a business unit from its parent company to operate independently or be sold.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.