Magirus GmbH has announced a change in leadership, with Fatmir Veselaj set to take over as CEO of the Ulm-based firefighting technology manufacturer.
He will succeed Thomas Hilse, who has served as the company’s chief executive since 2021 and will move to the Supervisory Board as part of the transition.
The change of leadership was celebrated on 25 June 2025 as part of a festive ceremony in Ulm city centre. Together with the Lord Mayor of Ulm, Martin Ansbacher, and the Commander of the Ulm Fire Brigade, Adrian Röhrle, Veselaj and Hilse unveiled a commemorative plaque donated by Magirus at the site of Conrad Dietrich Magirus’s birthplace in Hirschstraße.
The honour also marked the 130th anniversary of the death of the company founder, who is regarded as a co-founder of the German fire service and whose inventions are still influential worldwide today.
With Fatmir Veselaj, an experienced transformation manager is moving to the top of the company. Veselaj began his career at Porsche Consulting and was Head of Operations at Mutares, the new owner of Magirus. Since the beginning of 2025, Veselaj has already acted as Chief Restructuring Officer (CRO) at Magirus. In this role, he initiated a comprehensive transformation plan.
Ambitious goals such as an increase in turnover to 750 million euros, climate neutrality by 2030 and the establishment of the new “Magirus Defence” division are just as much a part of this as a customer-oriented realignment through the introduction of a new platform and business unit structure.
“I am very much looking forward to the challenges ahead and accept the responsibility with respect and enthusiasm,” says Fatmir Veselaj. “Together with the entire team, we will continue to develop the company in a customer-oriented manner and ensure sustainable profitability. I would like to thank Thomas Hilse for the professional handover phase and look forward to working with him on the Supervisory Board. ”
Thomas Hilse can look back on a 28-year international career in commercial vehicle and special vehicle construction, including as Brand President at IVECO. Under his leadership, important decisions were made for the future of Magirus – not least the change of ownership and the strategic reorganisation of the product portfolio. With his move to the Supervisory Board, he will remain with the company as a driving force in the future.
“I would like to thank our employees, the works council and our customers for their trust and loyalty over the past four years. Together, we have achieved a great deal and set the course for a successful future,” said Thomas Hilse. “Taking over from Conrad Dietrich Magirus was a great challenge and at the same time a great honour. I wish Fatmir Veselaj all the best in the management and further development of this great company!”
Thomas Hilse was honoured at a ceremony held at the Magirus Iveco Museum in Neu-Ulm. Karl Heinz Banse (President of the German Fire Service Association) presented Thomas Hilse with the German Fire Service Medal of Honour in recognition of his outstanding achievements in the field of firefighting.
