When the construction boom – triggered off by reunification – had slackened in the mid-1990s, the innate problems in the German construction industry came clearly to light. The HOCHTIEF CEO at the time, Dr. Hans-Peter Keitel (1947*), responded to these problems by systematically restructuring the company. Keitel had joined the HOCHTIEF Executive Board in 1990 and became Chairman in 1992. Under his leadership, the company developed into an international provider of construction and construction-related services. The new product and service offer comprises development, construction, services plus concessions and operation. In a fresh move, HOCHTIEF opened up new business fields such as project development, airport management and facility management. This service package formed the basis, among others, for the construction of Athens Airport (1996-2000) which HOCHTIEF now operates as airport manager. The realignment of the Group also brought about changes in the personnel structure: In addition to people from the traditional field of construction, HOCHTIEF's workforce today comprises financing experts, airport managers, sound technicians and school janitors, to mention but a few. After 15 years at the top of the company, Keitel left the HOCHTIEF Executive Board in 2007 and became a member of the Supervisory Board.

In his post as CEO, Keitel was succeeded by Dr. Herbert Lütkestratkötter (*1950). Mechanical engineer Lütkestratkötter joined HOCHTIEF in 2003 and, on the Executive Board, first took on responsibility for the HOCHTIEF Americas division and the business fields of public-private partnership (PPP) and facility management.