Jena, 25.03.2026. The Supervisory Board of JENOPTIK AG has made a trend-setting personnel decision for the future of the Thüringen-based group. Dr. Dominic Dorfner will take over the position of Chairman of the Executive Board of the Jena-based technology company by autumn 2026 at the latest.
- Who: Dr. Dominic Dorfner (born 1980), currently President & CEO at Semikron Danfoss
- What: Appointment as the new Chairman of the Executive Board of JENOPTIK AG
- When: Taking office by October 1, 2026, at the latest
- Contract duration: Appointment for a term of three years
Expert in Semiconductor Technology and Photonics
With the appointment of Dr. Dominic Dorfner, the technology group secures an internationally experienced manager with a strong scientific profile. Currently, the 46-year-old physicist serves as President and CEO at the helm of Semikron Danfoss, a world-leading provider in the field of power electronics.
Dorfner brings profound expertise that closely overlaps with Jenoptik’s strategic business areas. He completed his academic career at the Technische Universität München and in the US state of Illinois. His studies focused on the fields of semiconductors and bio-nanotechnology. He subsequently earned his doctorate on the subject of photonic biosensing – a field that precisely hits the core area of Jenoptik, which specializes in light technologies.
Background: Jenoptik as the Economic Engine of the City of Light
JENOPTIK AG is one of the most important figureheads of the Jena business and science location. Emerging from the core areas of the former VEB Carl Zeiss Jena combine, the company was significantly restructured and taken public after reunification by the then Chairman of the Executive Board, Lothar Späth.
Today, the group focuses primarily on global photonics markets. The company supplies high-precision optical technologies worldwide for industries such as semiconductor equipment, medical technology, the automotive industry, and mechanical engineering. For the city of Jena and the entire East Thüringen economic region, Jenoptik is not only a crucial industrial employer but also the driving force in the so-called „Optics Valley“. This network promotes the traditionally close and successful integration of research institutions, institutes of the Friedrich-Schiller-Universität, and local high-tech companies.
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Dr. Dominic Dorfner becomes new Chairman of the Executive Board of JENOPTIK AG
Transparency Note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.