ZEISS Meditec CEO Steps Down Following Compliance Breach as Company Reports Solid Annual Growth

Carl Zeiss Meditec AG will enter 2026 under new interim leadership after Maximilian Foerst, CEO of Carl Zeiss Meditec and member of the Executive Board of parent company Carl Zeiss AG, agreed to step down effective 31 December 2025.

Leadership Transition

The departure follows an internal investigation triggered by information received through ZEISS' whistleblower hotline. The investigation centred on a conflict of interest involving a breach of internal corporate policies during Foerst's previous role in China, several years ago. The matter was unrelated to ZEISS Group's business operations or Carl Zeiss Meditec's activities.

"I deeply regret that I did not act in compliance with the rules in my previous position. I take responsibility for this. Together with the Supervisory Boards of Carl Zeiss AG and Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, I have concluded that the premature termination of my executive duties is in the best interest of the company. I thank the ZEISS Group for the many years of collaboration, which means a great deal to me.​" Foerst stated in the company's announcement.

Andreas Pecher, currently President and CEO of Carl Zeiss AG, will assume the role of CEO at Carl Zeiss Meditec on an interim basis from 1 January 2026, while the company searches for a permanent successor. Peter Kameritsch will serve as interim Supervisory Board Chairman.

Dr Michael Bolle, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Carl Zeiss AG, emphasised that the strategic direction initiated under Foerst, focusing on customer orientation, commercial excellence, and targeted innovation, will continue unchanged.

Strong Financial Performance

Despite the leadership transition, Carl Zeiss Meditec reported encouraging results for fiscal year 2024/25, signalling continued strength in global eyecare markets.

The company achieved revenue of €2.228 billion (approximately AU$3.9 billion), representing growth of 7.8 per cent year-on-year (8.6 per cent currency-adjusted). Order intake showed even stronger momentum at €2.288 billion (AU$4.0 billion), up 18.2 per cent, with growth across all regions.

Ophthalmology Drives Growth

The Ophthalmology Strategic Business Unit recorded revenue of €1.724 billion (AU$3.0 billion), up 8.5 per cent, supported by the full consolidation of DORC and organic growth. Equipment sales continued recovering whilst volumes for intraocular lenses, particularly premium lenses, maintained growth trajectories.

Refractive procedure consumption increased slightly during the reporting period, with procedure numbers in China remaining stable despite ongoing market challenges.

The Microsurgery unit generated revenue of €504 million (AU$887 million), up 5.7 per cent, with notable acceleration toward year-end driven by strong deliveries of the new KINEVO 900 S neurosurgical microscope.

Regional Performance

All regions contributed to growth, with EMEA leading at 12.5 per cent revenue increase to €658 million (AU$1.2 billion), driven by strong performance in Germany, the United Kingdom, and Scandinavian markets.

The Americas region grew 8.7 per cent to €579 million (AU$1.0 billion), whilst the APAC region recorded a 4.4 per cent increase to €991 million (AU$1.7 billion). South East Asia, India, and South Korea contributed robust growth, though Japan experienced declining revenue.

Profitability and Outlook

EBITA (earnings before interest, taxes, and amortisation) reached €257.7 million (AU$454 million), up from €248.9 million in the prior year, representing an 11.6 per cent margin. The company has proposed a dividend of €0.55 per share (AU$0.97).

Looking ahead to fiscal year 2025/26, Carl Zeiss Meditec projects mid-single-digit percentage revenue growth to approximately €2.3 billion (AU$4.0 billion). The EBITA margin is expected to reach around 12.5 per cent, benefiting from an improved product mix and increasing recurring revenue from refractive laser business and the DORC portfolio.

However, the company noted potential headwinds from geopolitical developments, trade barriers, and regulatory changes, which may necessitate organisational adjustments and result in non-recurring charges estimated in the low- to mid-double-digit million euro range.

The leadership transition comes at a pivotal time for the eyecare industry, as practitioners worldwide continue investing in advanced diagnostic and surgical equipment. With order backlogs at elevated levels and strong momentum across product categories, the company appears well-positioned to maintain its growth trajectory under new leadership.