Tobias Lehner's First 100 Days: A New Chapter in the Leadership of synaforce

Since the beginning of 2026, synaforce’s leadership team has been complete: Tobias Lehner, previously CTO, has taken on the role of co-CEO, sharing responsibility for the company with Andreas Braidt. Now that the first 100 days are behind us, it’s a good time to pause, look back—and look ahead.

A Transition with Continuity

Leadership transitions are usually a sensitive time for companies. They bring change, but also uncertainty—both internally and externally. At synaforce, this transition was deliberately different.

Tobias Lehner is not joining the company as an external leader, but from within its own ranks.

He knows synaforce, the technological challenges, the customer requirements, and, above all, the people. As CTO, he has played a key role in shaping the company’s development and has contributed significantly to making synaforce the company it is today. A look back shows that this step came as no surprise: Tobias Lehner has shared entrepreneurial responsibility as a general authorized signatory since 2022—his appointment as managing director is thus the logical next step in a role he has already been fulfilling.

Starting in early 2026, Andreas and Tobias will lead synaforce in a new joint leadership structure. Peter Hartl has stepped down from the synaforce management team. He laid the foundation for much of what seems self-evident today.  

„Peter has left a lasting mark on synaforce. I take on his legacy with respect—and with the firm determination to build upon it.” — Tobias Lehner, Co-Managing Director of synaforce

Who is Tobias Lehner?

Tobias Lehner represents more than just technological excellence. Even in his role as CTO, he not only made strategic technology decisions but also built teams, designed processes, and positioned synaforce in the market as an innovation partner. He makes decisions with foresight—even when they are challenging.

At the same time, he is a leader who connects with people. His skills are becoming even more important in his new role. 

„My responsibilities have changed, but my commitment has not: I want synaforce to truly create real value for its customers. That was my driving force as CTO—and it is even more so as CEO.” — Tobias Lehner

Tobias used his first 100 days to listen attentively and gain a deeper understanding. The focus was on conversations with customers, partners, and employees from all areas of the company.

Instead of quick fixes or short-term fixes, he relies on well-founded insights as the basis for sustainable decisions—a central pillar of modern leadership. 

Andreas Braidt: Complementing Each Other as Equals

Working in a dual leadership structure often raises questions about the division of roles and decision-making processes. At synaforce, however, it is clear that the model works—because Andreas Braidt and Tobias Lehner consciously complement each other rather than compete.

Andreas Braidt has shaped the company for many years as a constant entrepreneurial force. He knows the customers, the markets, and the growth strategies in detail. He has positioned synaforce so that the company is now perceived as a reliable IT partner. He continues to fulfill this role—now with a partner at his side who brings the technological depth that sets synaforce apart from its competitors.

„Tobias and I have been working together for a long time—since the beginning of the year in a setup I’ve long wanted for synaforce. We complement each other very well. He thinks in terms of systems and solutions; I think in terms of markets and people. This isn’t a dual leadership structure; it’s a real team.” — Andreas Braidt, Managing Director of synaforce

Braidt describes their first 100 days together as a managing director duo as an “intense, but consistently right move.” Decision-making processes have become more efficient because technological and business perspectives are now directly at the table. What used to go through multiple levels can now be conceived and implemented more quickly.

„What I particularly appreciate about Tobias is his clarity. He openly stands by his position—even when it’s uncomfortable. This is exactly the attitude a company needs if it wants to continue growing.” — Andreas Braidt

Peter Hartl, synaforce’s long-time managing director, also reflects on the transition—and looks ahead:

„I poured my heart and soul into helping build synaforce, and I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together. That makes me all the more pleased that the company is now in the hands of people I trust completely. Tobias was already a pillar of the company as CTO and general authorized signatory—it is only logical that he is now managing director. I wish him and Andreas all the best for their future together. synaforce is well positioned." — Peter Hartl, former managing director of synaforce

What’s Changing—and What’s Staying the Same

FChanges in leadership inevitably raise the question: What, specifically, is changing now? At synaforce, the answer is deliberately nuanced.

What's changing: the pace. With Tobias Lehner as co-managing director, the technology strategy is now even more closely integrated with the company’s overall strategy. Topics such as artificial intelligence, automation, and scalable IT architectures for customers are no longer discussed exclusively at the technical level, but are prioritized directly at the executive level.
This means shorter decision-making paths, clearer commitments—and a signal to the market: technological progress is not just an aspiration, but a lived reality.

What remains: a consistent focus on customer value. Both managing directors agree:
strategic decisions must be judged by the value they add for customers.

„No matter how good our strategies are, if they don’t create value for the customer, they’re irrelevant. That is and always will be my standard.” — Tobias Lehner

Another constant is the company culture: synaforce is a company where people enjoy working—and that’s no accident. In his first 100 days, Tobias Lehner made it clear that this culture should not be taken for granted, but is a key factor in the company’s success that must be consciously nurtured and developed.

Looking Ahead

100 days isn’t a long time—but it’s enough to identify a clear direction. At synaforce, that direction is clear: technologically ambitious, customer-centric, and led by a management team that strategically pools its strengths.

The challenges facing the IT industry are well known: a shortage of skilled workers, rapid technological development, and rising customer expectations. synaforce is rising to these challenges—with a CTO who is now also a managing director, and a CEO who knows the value of his partner.

„I’m looking forward to the next 100 days—and to everything that lies ahead.” — Tobias Lehner

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