German camera manufacturer Leica Camera AG has officially announced a major change in its senior management. Effective April 1, 2026, Andreas Voll will succeed Matthias Harsch, who has been at the helm since 2017, as the new CEO of Leica Camera AG. Following Leica's historic milestone of celebrating its 100th anniversary of camera production in 2025, this new leader, with extensive experience in Swiss luxury watchmaking, is expected to guide the century-old optics brand in a new strategic direction within the digital transformation and mobile imaging market.
Drawing on Swiss watchmaking experience, Leica is infused with a boutique management mindset.
Before joining Leica, the newly appointed CEO, Andreas Voll, served as CEO of the German multinational corporation fischer Group. Prior to that, he held several senior management positions at IWC Schaffhausen, a Swiss luxury watch brand under the Richemont Group, eventually rising to the position of Chief Operating Officer. His career began at the renowned management consulting firm Roland Berger.
Dr. Andreas Kaufmann, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Leica, expressed his high expectations for the appointment: "With the addition of Andreas Voll, we welcome a leader who combines entrepreneurial vision, technical expertise, and a deep understanding of luxury and high-end brands. He will continue Leica's successful trajectory while injecting new momentum into innovation and growth."
In his statement, Andreas Voll emphasized that Leica is unparalleled in its precision, design, and photographic culture, and that he will work with the team to enhance innovation, advance digital transformation, and continue to expand its global market presence.
Five strategic directions for the future: Maintaining high-level leadership while embracing mobile imaging.
In his upcoming term, Andreas Voll outlined five strategic priorities for Leica's future:
• Expanding digital and connected imaging solutions:Enhance the seamless connectivity experience between cameras and smart devices and cloud services.
• Continue to develop a high-end product portfolio:To solidify Leica's absolute advantage among the top-tier customer segment.
• Strengthening the global sales and retail system:Optimize the premium experience at Leica Stores and its global distribution network.
• Strengthening partnerships in mobile imaging and optics:It is expected that technical cooperation with smartphone brands (such as Xiaomi) and the L-Mount Alliance will continue to be deepened.
• Promoting sustainable corporate governance and responsible manufacturing systems:In line with the global trend of ESG development among enterprises.
Dr. Andreas Kaufmann added that while digital transformation will be driven, Germany's outstanding engineering, Wetzlar's traditional manufacturing processes, and unique photographic cultural heritage will remain Leica's unshakable core strategies.
Matthias Harsch retires from his position to become an advisor.
As for Matthias Harsch, who is about to step down, since taking over as CEO in 2017, he has not only led Leica to solidify its position as a global high-end photography brand, but has also successfully expanded into new business areas such as laser TVs and smartphone lens collaborations. Before the official handover on April 1, 2026, he will continue to be responsible for the company's daily operations to ensure a smooth transition, and will also continue to participate in some of Leica's project projects in an advisory capacity.
