BERLIN (Reuters), Frank Appel (CEO of Deutsche Post) is the favorite to be the next chairman of Deutsche Telekom’s supervisory board, according to the Handelsblatt newspaper.

A preliminary decision may be taken at a meeting by the supervisory board Dec. 15. Appel could potentially be offered for election at April 7’s annual meeting, Handelsblatt reported, citing five persons familiar with the subject.

The newspaper reported that talks are also underway to extend an earlier contract for Telekom CEO Timotheus Hoetges. Both companies refused to comment.

Ulrich Lehner is retiring as Telekom chairman. He has been the Telekom supervisory board’s head since 2008. Next year’s shareholders meeting will end. His confirmation that the search for an external successor was ongoing had been already made.

Klaus Zumwinkel was the predecessor to Appel as Deutsche Post’s Supervisory Board Chairman.

German Government holds shares in both of these companies.

Appel is a McKinsey ex-consultant and works for Deutsche Post depuis 2000. He joined the Deutsche Post board of management in 2002. In 2008, he was promoted to CEO.

He has a contract that runs through 2022. A decision about his future at Post was expected to be made soon. A few industry sources speculate that Appel may be looking to make a move, considering that Deutsche Post posted record numbers during the pandemic.