Schaeffler appoints Celia Pelaz as CEO of new Defence & New Space subsidiary
Schaeffler has named Celia Pelaz, a veteran executive with over 25 years in defence and space, to lead its new STech Defence GmbH unit focused on defence and New Space.
- 25+
- 10% by 2035
What Happened
Celia Pelaz, currently COO of Spire Global, will become CEO of Schaeffler's 'Defence & New Space' unit and manage STech Defence GmbH starting October 1, 2026. She brings more than 25 years of international experience from EADS, Airbus Defence & Space, and Hensoldt.
STech Defence GmbH, founded in late 2025, focuses on defence and New Space solutions, leveraging Schaeffler's manufacturing and engineering capabilities. The unit is based in Munich and also includes CTO Manfred Homm and interim CFO Dr. Christopher Köth.
“We are very pleased to appoint Celia Pelaz, one of the most distinguished and experienced executives in the European defence and space industry, for Schaeffler. With her experience, expertise and leadership strength, she will make an important contribution as an internationally experienced expert to expanding Schaeffler Group’s defence and space business and shaping this important new growth field”
10%% of total revenue
By 2035, Schaeffler aims to achieve ten percent of revenue outside its core business, including defence and New Space.
Why this matters
The move shows Schaeffler's push into new growth areas beyond its core automotive business, aiming for 10% of revenue from such fields by 2035.
Terms in This Story
- New Space
- A term for the commercial space industry, including private satellite and launch services, space tourism, and space-based data analytics.
- COO
- Chief Operating Officer, an executive responsible for day-to-day operations of a company.
- STech Defence GmbH
- A German limited liability company founded by Schaeffler to focus on defence and New Space products and services.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.