Roland Busch

In 2026, Busch strongly criticised certain European rules on AI and data, arguing that they impeded industrial AI. He warned that Siemens could direct most of an AI investment programme worth approximately one billion euros towards the United States unless the European framework was adapted.

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Direct responsibility

Siemens' management board sought a two-year extension of the option to hold general meetings exclusively online. In February 2025, the resolution secured only approximately 71 % of votes, below the required 75 % threshold, following criticism from proxy advisers and shareholders concerning the quality of dialogue in a virtual format.

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Direct responsibility

In 2025, Siemens announced approximately 6 000 job cuts across two businesses, mainly Digital Industries and electric vehicle charging, including around 2 850 in Germany. The announcement raised trade union and political concerns about German industrial employment.

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Direct responsibility

Roland Busch and TotalEnergies' CEO co-signed a letter, reportedly supported by a broad group of European companies, calling on Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz to go as far as repealing the CSDDD corporate due diligence directive. The request triggered controversy over weakening environmental and human rights obligations in supply chains.

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Directly implicated

Under Roland Busch's leadership, Siemens separated its Large Drives Applications business, which would become Innomotics. Hundreds of employees, notably at Berlin's Dynamowerk plant, protested against the operation, fearing a sale, weaker guarantees and loss of integration within the group.

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Direct responsibility

Busch sought to accelerate Siemens' activities in China, particularly in Digital Industries, with a target of strong local growth. The strategy prompted criticism over the risk of increasing dependence on China at a time when Germany was seeking to reduce its geopolitical vulnerabilities.

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Direct responsibility

When Siemens Energy needed to secure approximately 15 billion euros in guarantee facilities in 2023, the German government made its support conditional on contributions from other stakeholders. Siemens, still a major shareholder, faced strong pressure to contribute further. Busch resisted being pushed into a hasty decision and emphasised his duties to Siemens shareholders.

State of the evidence

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Attribution

Direct responsibility