The Presidential Board consists of the President, his elected successor, his immediate predecessor, 7 other representatives and the treasurer (Vice Presidents) plus a further 15 members elected by the executive board.

Other members consist of the chair of the BDI Committee on Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, the chair of the Association for the Promotion of Industry and the President of the German Institute for Economic Research. The Presidential Board can also co-opt as members up to 25 more outstanding personalities from industry as well as the representative it nominates for the Presidential Board of the Confederation of German Employers’ Associations. There is also a member from the Presidential Board of the Confederation of German Employers’ Associations who is proposed by that body.

At the suggestion of the President, the Presidential Board can elect the Director General for the duration of his term of office. Permanent guests in the Presidential Board are the President and Director General of the Confederation of German Employers’ Associations (BDA), the President of the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) and the Director of the German Institute for Economic Research. The Presidential Board directs the content of the whole work of the BDI.

Peter Leibinger was elected President by the BDI's general assembly in November 2024. His term of office began with the year 2025.

• since 2023 Chairman of the Supervisory and Administrative Board of TRUMPF SE + Co KG.
• 2018-2023 Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of the TRUMPF Group, responsible for research and development, sales and service, as well as the development and expansion of new business fields
• 2005-2018 Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Laser Technology and Electronics Division, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of the TRUMPF Group
• since 2005 Deputy Chairman of the Group Management Board of TRUMPF SE + Co. KG.
• 2003-2005 CEO of the Laser Technology and Electronics Division, Managing Director of TRUMPF Laser GmbH + Co. KG in Schramberg
• since 2000 Holding Managing Director and Managing Partner of TRUMPF SE + Co. KG.
• 1999-2003 CEO and Chairman of the Board of TRUMPF, Inc. in Farmington, Connecticut, USA.
• 1997-1999 Development engineer at the Ingersoll Milling Machine Company in Rockford, Illinois, USA since 1994 Shareholder of TRUMPF SE + Co KG.
• 1987 Studied mechanical engineering (Dipl.-Ing.) at the Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) in Aachen
• 1986 Abitur at secondary school in Gerlingen April
• 1967 Born in Stuttgart as the son of Prof. Dr.-Ing. E. h. Berthold and Doris Leibinger.
• Married, four children