Celia Pelaz will become CEO of “Defence & New Space” at Schaeffler effective October 1, 2026, taking over responsibility for the management board of STech Defence GmbH, the company announced on June 1, 2026. STech Defence GmbH was founded as an independent subsidiary of Schaeffler AG at the end of 2025 to focus on the defence and New Space sectors. Pelaz brings more than 25 years of international experience in the defence and space industry.
Pelaz most recently served as Chief Operating Officer and Member of the Management Board at Spire Global, Inc., a leading global provider of satellite data, analytics, and intelligence, a position she held since January 2025. Her career began in 2001 at the European aerospace, space and defence group EADS, where she held various positions in operations, sales, and project management. She later worked at Airbus Defence & Space (AD&S) until mid-2014, and then served as Head of Transformation & Corporate Secretary at AD&S until early 2016, overseeing the carve-out of defence electronics activities that later became Hensoldt AG. At Hensoldt, she held roles including Head of International Development, Strategy & Corporate Functions, Head of Strategic Business Development, and Head of the Spectrum Dominance & Airborne Solutions Division. From July 2021 to August 2024, she served as Chief Strategy Officer and later as Chief Operating Officer at Hensoldt AG.
According to Klaus Rosenfeld, CEO of Schaeffler AG: “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 for the future.”
The “Defence & New Space” activities, consolidated in STech Defence GmbH, are based in Munich. In addition to Pelaz, Manfred Homm serves as CTO, and Dr. Christopher Koth is interim CFO. STech Defence GmbH positions itself as a preferred partner to defence and space industries in Germany and Europe, building on Schaeffler Group’s capabilities in product development, manufacturing, and industrialization.
Schaeffler AG aims to achieve a ten percent share of revenue in new growth areas outside its core business by 2035, including humanoid robotics, defence, and New Space. This appointment underscores Schaeffler's strategic commitment to expanding its presence in defence and space, leveraging Pelaz's extensive industry experience. For readers in the business and technology sectors, this move signals Schaeffler's intent to diversify and capitalize on emerging opportunities in defence and space technologies, potentially impacting supply chains and innovation in Europe. The appointment also highlights the growing importance of New Space as a commercial sector, with traditional industrial companies like Schaeffler entering the fray.
For more information, see the original release on NewMediaWire.
