Accuride Corp. appointed Kent Jones as the new CEO and a member of the board of directors, effective June 9. Jones has over 30 years of automotive industry experience. Most recently, he served as the president of the Americas region at SAF-Holland Inc. Prior to that, Jones held positions at ZF Group, Remy International and Delco Remy. "We are thrilled to welcome Kent to Accuride. He understands our industry and brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of dri...

Continental has appointed Roland Welzbacher as its new CFO. Welzbacher will succeed Olaf Schick, who requested an early termination of his contract in December 2024. Welzbacher will first become a member of Continental’s executive board on August 1, 2025, and take over as the company’s CFO two months later, on Oct. 1, 2025. Schick will step down from his role as Continental’s CFO a day before on Sept. 30, 2025. Welzbacher brings more than 20 years of experience with Continental, havi...

The supervisory board of thyssenkrupp AG has appointed Axel Hamann as CFO and Wilfried von Rath as chief human resources officer (CHRO) and labor director. Hamann will succeed Jens Schulte, who has been CFO since June 2024 and has also been the acting CHRO since February 2025. Schulte took the role of interim CHRO after Oliver Burkhard decided to step down in November 2024 to focus exclusively on his duties as CEO of thyssenkrupp’s Marine Systems (tkMS). Von Rath will join thyssen...

Apollo Tyres has appointed Parmeshwaran Iyer as its chief supply chain officer. In his new role, Iyer will be responsible for leading and strategically developing the Indian tiremaker's global supply chain operations. His responsibilities will include aligning demand forecasting, production planning, logistics management and stakeholder coordination with the company's overarching business objectives. Iyer will report directly to Neeraj Kanwar, vice chairman and managing director of Apollo Tyres....

Goodyear Tire & Rubber has appointed David Anckaert as the new chief of Product Strategy and Planning, with immediate effect. Anckaert, who has been with Goodyear since 2000, will report directly to Mark Stewart, president and CEO of the company. Throughout his tenure at Goodyear, Anckaert has gained extensive experience by occupying various roles within the organization, including vice president of Commercial Europe, vice president of Consumer Replacement Europe, and most recently, vice ...

Continental has appointed Nino Romano as the new chief technology officer (CTO) of its Automotive Group, which is in the transition phase toward becoming an independent publicly listed entity, effective Feb. 1. He succeeded Gilles Mabire who left the German supplier in November 2024. Romano has been associated with Continental for more than 30 years. Prior to the latest promotion, he was serving as the head of Quality and Operations. Romano has also been a member of the Automotive manage...

Continental has appointed Karin Dohm as the future CFO of its Automotive group sector, which is set to be spun off as an independent company. Her appointment will become effective April 1, 2025. Dohm will replace Claudia Holtkemper as the head of Finance and Controlling within the Automotive group. Holtkemper, who has held the position since May 2023, will transition to a new role within Continental. Dohm is working as CFO of the Hornbach Group. Prior to her role at Hornbach, she spent n...

Continental has announced that Olaf Schick will step down early from his role as executive board member of finance, integrity and law on Sept. 30, 2025. He will leave the German supplier after its planned completion of preparation for the spinoff of the Automotive group business. Schick has been a member of Continental’s executive board for integrity and law since May 2023 and CFO since July 1. Continental will decide Schick's successor in due course. “We are saddened by Olaf Schick’...

Nexen Tire has announced changes in its senior leadership team, including promoting John Bosco (Hyeon Suk) Kim to the post of CEO. Kim has been associated with the South Korean tiremaker since 1990, leading the company's sales and marketing efforts not only in South Korea, but also in the Asia-Pacific and European regions, delivering outstanding results. Kim's leadership in the Global Sales division since 2016 has been instrumental in Nexen Tire's evolution into a global enterprise, significa...

Schaeffler has announced key changes in its board of managing directors and its executive board, after successful completion of its previously announced merger with Vitesco Technologies. Thomas Stierle, previously CEO of the Electrification Solutions division at Vitesco, has joined Schaeffler as the CEO of the newly established E-Mobility division and became a member of the executive board with effect from Oct. 1, 2024. Stierle started his career at Siemens VDO and held various positio...

Linamar has reported an 11.6% year-over-year increase in sales to $2.85 billion in the second quarter ended June 30, 2024, the company said in a press release on Aug. 8. Higher sales helped the company record a 26.8% year-over-year increase in operating earnings to $271.5 million and a 29% year-over-year growth in net income to $174.1 million. In the first six months of 2024, Linamar reported a 15% year-over-year growth in sales to $5.6 billion. The company recorded operating earnings of $540...

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. has announced significant changes in its senior leadership team. The US-based tiremaker has appointed Mamatha Chamarthi as senior vice president and chief digital officer, and Will Roland as senior vice president and chief marketing officer, effective Aug. 1. Both Chamarthi and Roland will report directly to Mark Stewart, president and CEO of Goodyear. “It's imperative that we understand our customers on a deeper level and both Will and Mamatha allow us to...

In a press release dated July 23, Sogefi announced that Frédéric Sipahi has resigned as CEO and general manager in order to undertake a new and different professional project. Sipahi’s resignation from his role as CEO will be effective at the end of July, and from his role as general manager at the end of August. Sogefi has decided to activate the noncompete clause provided under his employment contract for a duration of one year, which entails the payment of a total g...

Kongsberg Automotive (KA) has appointed Christian Johansson as their new CFO, effective June 3. Johansson will succeed Frank Heffter, who has chosen to leave the organization to pursue new opportunities. Johansson brings with him over 30 years of global industrial and automotive experience, including a senior leadership role as the CFO of Volvo Trucks. His current position is as the interim Group CFO of Colmec Group and he has previously served in the same role for Lantmännen, SKF Group and ...

SKF, a leading global provider of industrial and automotive solutions, has appointed Mukund Vasudevan as its new managing director — India and president for the Industrial Region, India and South East Asia (ISEA), Autocar Professional reported April 8. Vasudevan brings over 33 years of experience in various industries, including at companies such as Pentair, Ecolab and McKinsey, and most recently served as managing director of Enterprise at Moglix. In his new role, he will be resp...

Schaeffler India has reappointed Harsha Kadam as managing director and CEO for a second term of three years, effective Oct. 1, 2024, until Sept. 30, 2027. Kadam has over three decades of experience in propelling businesses across various domains, including sales, manufacturing, product design and development, and business excellence. According to Eranti Sumithasri, chairperson and independent director at Schaeffler India, Kadam's reappointment is a testament to the company's trust in his lead...

L Ganesh, the chairman of Rane Group, has decided to retire from the operating entities of the group, effective March 31. He will serve as a non-executive director on these entities and continue as chairman and managing director of Rane Holdings. Ganesh has been the chairman of Rane Group for the past 18 years. He has also led the group to win the prestigious Deming Award for his contributions to the dissemination and promotion of Total Quality Management (TQM) in 2022. Harish Lakshman will t...

On March 11, Continental announced that CFO Katja Garcia Vila notified the company that she would not seek another term when her contract expires in December 2024. Garcia Vila has been responsible for Group Finance and Controlling, as well as Group IT since her appointment to the executive board in December 2021. She cited personal career planning as the reason for her decision. Garcia Vila began her career at Continental in 1997 and held various positions before taking over as head of S...

Bridgestone India, part of the Bridgestone Corporation, has announced the appointment of Hiroshi Yoshizane as managing director. Yoshizane will succeed Stefano Sanchini, who will be appointed as the vice president of Consumer Replacement for Europe. Yoshizane moves to his new role from Bridgestone Japan where he has served in various leadership positions. He last served as executive vice president of Solution Business, Retail, and Service Business in Bridgestone Tire Solution Japan Co., Ltd, ...

In a press release on Jan. 31, automotive suppliers Kongsberg Automotive (KA) said its board of directors (BOD) has appointed Linda Nyquist-Evenrud as the president and CEO of KA, effective immediately, after she was first appointed as interim president and CEO on July 24, 2023. Commenting on the appointment, Peter Thostrup, chair of KA’s BOD, said, “On behalf of the BOD of KA, I am pleased to officially announce Linda Nyquist-Evenrud as the new President & CEO of KA. Nyquist-Evenrud ...

Numerous changes within the management of The Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. will take effect following the company’s general meeting of shareholders on March 28, including the appointment of Masataka Yamaishi as chairman and CEO. Shinji Seimiya will take over Yamaishi’s current remit as president, as well as the role of COO, according to a press release on Jan. 31. Promoted members of the board Masataka Yamaishi Chairman and CEO, chairman of the board (General Management/Planning and Admin...

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. announced that Mark Stewart has been elected CEO and president, effective Jan. 29. He will succeed Richard J. Kramer, who previously announced his planned retirement from the company following 24 years of service, including 14 years as chairman, CEO and president.  On the effective date, Laurette T. Koellner, independent lead director of Goodyear’s board since 2019, will become non-executive board chair, and Stewart will be added to the Goodyear ...

Rich Kramer, chairman, CEO and president of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. will retire in 2024 after 24 years of service, including 14 years as the company's CEO. Kramer led Goodyear's transformation into a technology-driven mobility company and delivered five consecutive years of annual segment operating income, the highest in the company's history. Under his leadership, Goodyear also reduced costs, streamlined manufacturing and invested in growth. Kramer guided the company through the COV...

According to a press release dated Nov. 8, Continental has appointed Gerd Bartels as the new head of its Specialty Tires business area, effective Nov. 1, 2023. Bartels, 55, is responsible for overseeing the company's tire solutions and services for various industrial applications as well as two-wheeler and racing tires. Bartels reports directly to Christian Kötz, a member of Continental's executive board and head of Tires. Bartels succeeds Wolfgang Thomale, who was recently appointed head of Co...

Antolin's board of directors has appointed Cristina Blanco Santo Tomas as the company's new CEO. Blanco will lead the company's transformation process to position it as a leading supplier of technological solutions for automobile interiors in the new electric mobility era, it said in a press release on October 11.  The new CEO brings extensive experience and in-depth knowledge of the company, having spent over 22 years at Antolin. As CFO and a member of the executive committee, she playe...

Manja Greimeier has been appointed as the new head of Original Equipment (OE) for Continental’s Tires Group sector, effective August 1. She will be tasked with the company’s global OE business for passenger and commercial vehicles, according to a press release dated August 30. David O’Donnell, who previously held the position, is now responsible for the global research and development activities for the manufacturer’s passenger car tire replacement business. Greimeier brings to the...

Mercedes-Benz Group’s supervisory board has reappointed Ola Källenius as chairman of the board of management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG until May 21, 2029, the company announced July 27. The board has also extended the contract of Markus Schäfer as the chief technology officer until May 21, 2026. As chief technology officer, Schäfer will be the board of management member responsible for Development and Procurement at the German luxury-car maker. The company also announced that Ren...

The board of directors of Kongsberg Automotive ASA (KA) has appointed Linda Nyquist-Evenrud as interim president and CEO effective July 25. Nyquist-Evenrud comes from the position of executive vice president of KA’s Flow Control Systems (FCS) business unit and is part of the executive management. She brings more than 19 years of experience in the automotive industry, starting at KA as sales manager for Raufoss Couplings in 2008, and advancing to senior vice president of the Couplings business ...

Volkswagen has made new appointments in its top executive team in order to strengthen its leadership as the German carmaker prepares to step up its transition to electric vehicles while developing new capabilities in areas such as components, software, EV charging, battery and others. On July 12, VW announced that there will be personnel changes at its software unit Cariad SE, Bentley Motors Ltd., Volkswagen AG, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and Volkswagen Group Components from September 1...

South Korean carmaker Kia Corp.’s European subsidiary — Kia Europe — has appointed Pierre-Martin Bos as director for its Purpose-Built Vehicle (PBV) business, Kia announced July 10. The carmaker said that Bos will be working in the newly created position at Kia Europe from the regional headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany. Bos will take up his role at Kia Europe July 10, the company said. As a senior executive, Bos will take over the management of the dedicated team, which has bee...

South Korean vehicle manufacturer Hyundai Motor Group has appointed its current executive vice president Yong Wha Kim as the new head of R&D Division, effective May 1, the company announced on April 25. Kim will succeed Chung Kook Park, who also served as the head of the R&D Division, besides serving as the president at Hyundai Motor Company. The group has now appointed President Park as an advisor to the R&D team. Hyundai said that Kim had joined the carmaker in 2015 as an exp...

Tenneco has announced the appointment of Jeff Stafeil as executive vice president and chief financial officer, in a press release dated 31 October. Stafeil will replace Matti Masanovich as the CFO. Stafeil will join Tenneco from Adient, a supplier of automotive seating components and systems, where he served as the executive vice president and chief financial officer. “I'm excited to join the team at this critical time for our company and for the automotive industry. Tenneco has a range ...

Knorr-Bremse AG has appointed Marc Llistosella as CEO for a period of three years with effective 1 January 2023, the company said in a press release on 13 October. Marc Llistosella, designated CEO of Knorr Bremse AG, said, “Knorr Bremse is a fascinating company and a true icon of German industry. It has stood for safe transportation for over 115 years and, as a global market leader, it drives innovation for sustainable, safety-critical system solutions. Together with its employees and the E...

Ford Motor Company announced on 22 September 2022 that the automaker is restructuring its top deck with an aim to strengthen its internal combustion product line and transform the company’s global supply chain management. The said management changes are being done as part of the company’s Ford+ plan, which intends to accelerate growth and value creation with the development of breakthrough electric vehicles at scale. Ford has named Doug Field as the new chief advanced product development ...

ZF Friedrichshafen has appointed Michael Frick as its new chief financial officer, it said in a press release on 19 September. Frick succeeds Konstantin Sauer, who will leave ZF at the end of 2022. Sauer joined ZF in 1990 and served as the CFO since 2010. Frick will join ZF from automotive supplier Mahle, where he served as the CFO and interim chairman of the management board. Frick Joined Mahle Group as head of corporate controlling in 2003. He held various senior management roles in the ...

ABC Technologies has appointed Terry Campbell as the company’s president and CEO, effective immediately following the mutual agreement for Todd Sheppelman to step down as president and CEO and as a director of the company, according to a press release by BusinessWire on 16 August.  Mr. Campbell joined ABC Technologies as CEO in 2022. He previously served as COO of The Woodbridge Group, a leading foam supplier to the automotive and other industries and has held business unit and operati...

Stellantis has appointed Maxime Picat as its new Chief Purchasing and Supply Chain Officer, it said in a press release on 11 May. Maxime Picat’s appointment comes at a vital time when the automotive industry is going through a rapid transformation. His analytical skills and trusted relations with suppliers will enhance Stellantis’ short- and medium-term performance in the new E-mobility and alternative fuels ecosystem. Stellantis aims at lowering cost of EVs by 40% to ensure affordability, w...

Israeli automotive tech company REE Automotive announced via press release on 5 April that it had appointed ex-Tesla Head of the New Product/Manufacturing Introduction group, Josh Tech, as the new COO. According to the press release, the new COO brings over 23 years of experience in complex product development and launch, industrialization, infrastructure development, engineering, supply chain, quality, and operations management from his previous time at automaker Tesla and construction ...

International automotive supplier Edscha Group has appointed César Pontvianne de la Maza as CEO, the company announced in a press release on 3 March 2022. Edscha Group said that César Pontvianne de la Maza replaces Torsten Greiner as CEO. Francisco José Riberas Mera, Executive Chairman of Gestamp, said, “César, with the entire Edscha team, will ensure the successful implementation of the initiatives outlined by our transformation plan and thus optimally position the group for future mar...

Israeli-based manufacturer of modular platforms REE Automotive announced via press release on 6 January the appointment of finance executive David Goldberg as the company’s CFO. Goldberg joins the company from Magna International where he was the SVP of Corporate Development. According to the press release, the new CFO brings with him 20 years of experience in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and management consulting thanks to previous stints at Morgan Stanley, Bain & ...

CIE Automotive today appoints Mr. Fermin del Rio Sanz de Acedo as CIE Automotive’ new VP, the company announced in a press release on 15 December. MR. Fermin del Rio has been contributing to the growth of the company at various capacities for more than 30 years and served as a Director for CIE Automotive since 2005.  Significance: Mr. Fermin del Rio Sanz holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management (San Sebastian) and began his professional career as a tax advi...

Continental has appointed Katja Dürrfeld as the chief financial officer (CFO) of the company, it said in a press release on 14 December. Dürrfeld succeeds Nikolai Setzer, who assumed the role within the executive board on an interim basis. Dürrfeld will be responsible for group finance, controlling, and group information technology. Dürrfeld joined Continental in 1997 and held several operational positions in IT, marketing, sales, logistics, auditing and purchasing before taking over...

Global automotive component supplier MARELLI announced on 3 December 2021 that the company has appointed David Fan as EVP and president for the China region with effect from 1 January 2022. In his new role, Fan will be responsible for leading the business of MARELLI in China, aiming to support growth for domestic Chinese OEMs as well as the global OEMs in China. “The appointment will be key to strengthen MARELLI position in the growing Chinese market, therefore accelerating t...

German automotive component manufacturer Continental AG announced on 30 September that its Supervisory Board has approved the Group’s restructuring with a focus on market developments and customer requirements. “The Executive Board decided on the organizational changes in September 2021 in view of the transformation of the mobility industry,” the company said in a statement, adding that ‘following the successful spin-off of Vitesco Technologies in mid-September 2021 and the decision t...

Italian tire manufacturer Pirelli announced on 7 September via a press release that CFO Francesco Tanzi had tendered his resignation and would be leaving the company on 31 December to pursue a new professional experience. Tanzi, EVP at Pirelli, started his career at the company in 1989 as a junior professional in the Export Financing Unit. After a career working in Pirelli’s Financial Planning Department, in the International Treasury in Basel and finally in ex-subsidiary Telecom Itali...

Horizon Robotics, a Beijing-based domestic chip supplier, announced on 1 September that it had appointed Liming Chen, formerly head of the Bosch Chassis Control System R&D Center, as president of the company. According to iNews, the founder and CEO of Horizon Robotics, Kai Yu, welcomed Chen to the company, saying, "Dr. Liming Chen is a well-respected technical expert and industry leader in the industry. He focuses on the world and understands the development ...

Automotive steering components and motion control systems supplier, Nexteer Automotive, has announced that it has appointed Robin Milavec as President in addition to his current role as the company’s global CTO, chief strategy officer and executive board director. According to a press release issued by Nexteer on 17 August, Tao Liu, Nexteer’s president and global COO, has retired effective 15 August. Furthermore, Bill Quigley, the company’s CFO, has also announced his retireme...

Germany-based supplier, Bosch, has announced changes at its top executive level with effect from 1 January 2022 onward. According to a press release issued by Bosch on 24 June, the company stated that Dr. Stefan Hartung will be appointed as the new chairman of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH. He will succeed Dr. Volkmar Denner, who will step down after a ten-year stint as the company’s CEO. Stefan Asenkerschbaumer will be succeeded as CFO by Dr. Markus Forschner. Additiona...

Kongsberg Automotive ASA has appointed Joerg Buchheim as CEO and president effective 1 May 2021. Buchheim brings more than two decades of international executive leadership experience in the automotive supply industry. He will be responsible for developing its substantial business potential in close alignment with the leadership team and the entire workforce. Norbert Loers and Robert Pigg, Kongsberg Automotive’s co-CEOs ad interim, will return to their previous roles and responsibilities as...

American tiremaker The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has announced that Ryan Patterson, currently the president of its Asia Pacific business unit, will lead the effort to integrate Cooper Tire with Goodyear as the company’s senior vice president of Business Integration. According to a press release issued by Goodyear on 4 March, Nathaniel Madarang, currently managing director of Goodyear China, will succeed Patterson as president of Goodyear Asia Pacific. Both appointments are e...

American tire supplier, Goodyear, has announced that it has appointed Chris Helsel as the senior vice president of global operations and chief technology officer. According to a press release issued by Goodyear on 25 February, he will be succeeding Jonathan Bellissimo, who is retiring after a career at Goodyear spanning four decades. Helsel joined Goodyear in 1996 and has been in his most recent role of CTO since 2017. During his career, he has worked in a variety of roles including as the di...

Japan-based automotive powertrain components supplier, NSK Ltd., has announced changes to its senior leadership. According to a press release issued by NSK on 2 February, the company announced at its regular Board of Directors' meeting held on the same day that Toshihiro Uchiyama will resign as President and Chief Executive Officer of NSK Ltd. to become its new Chairman of the Board of Directors. The company has appointed Akitoshi Ichii as director, representative, president, and CEO of NSK L...

Pirelli has announced that its general manager and co-CEO Angelos Papadimitriou will leave the company to pursue other opportunities. According to a press release by the Italian tiremaker on 20 January, Papadimitriou wishes to evaluate a professional pathway with entrepreneurial elements, in line with his experience gained over the years. He has also expressed his willingness to continue supporting Pirelli by maintaining his role as a board member and member of the Strategic Committee.  &nb...

The Board of SKF has appointed Rickard Gustafson as its new President and CEO. According to a press release issued by SKF on 11 January, he will succeed Alrik Danielson and join SKF during the first half of 2021. Gustafson is currently the president and CEO of the Scandinavian airline holding company, SAS Group. He has also worked with the insurance company, Codan/Trygg Hansa, and General Electric. Significance: Commenting on the appointment, Hans Stråberg, chairman of the Board of AB SKF...

Magna has announced that Swamy Kotagiri has taken over as new CEO of the company, effective 1 January 2021, according to a company press release on 4 January. He succeeded Don Walker, who retired at the end of 2020. Kotagiri has been working with Magna for more than two decades now and has served in various product groups and corporate roles, spanning functions including engineering, operations, and research and development (R&D). Kotagiri contributed to the company’s recent g...

Sumitomo Rubber North America (SRNA), a Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. subsidiary comprising both Falken Tires and Dunlop Motorcycle Tires, has appointed Darren Thomas as senior vice president and chief operating officer (COO), the company announced in a press release on 14 December. Thomas previously served as senior vice president of sales and marketing. “With the significant changes I foresee in the tire industry’s near future, SRNA needs an aggressive, high-energy, market-wise leade...

Alrik Danielson will resign from the post of President and CEO of SKF in 2021, according to a company press release on 16 November 2020. Danielson will continue in his current role until a successor is in place, contributing to a smooth transition. Significance: Hans Stråberg, chairman of the Board of AB SKF, said “I would like to warmly thank Alrik Danielson for his contributions to SKF during his 25 years in the company and especially for his time as president and CEO. He has implemented...

Continental has appointed Nikolai Setzer as its new CEO and executive board chairman, effective 1 December, the company has announced in a press release on 12 November. The appointment will be effective until March 2024. He succeeds Dr. Elmar Degenhart who is stepping down from his position for health reasons, with the consent of the Supervisory Board, effective 30 November 2020. Significance: Setzer has been working with Continental since 1997. In his 23-year career at the company to date, h...

Continental CEO Dr. Elmar Degenhart will resign from his position effective 30 November 2020, citing health reasons, according to a company press release on 29 October 2020. He has asked the supervisory board to accept the early termination of his executive board directorship and his contract, which would have run until 11 August 2024. Degenhart explained the reasons for choosing the timing of his resignation. “After a lot of effort invested for the benefit of our organization, I was r...

Canadian supplier Magna has appointed Seetarama (Swamy) Kotagiri as its new CEO, according to a company press release on 20 October. The appointment is effective 1 January 2021. He will succeed Don Walker, who served as CEO between 1994 and 2001, and since 2005, will retire at the end of 2020. Significance: Kotagiri has more than 25 years of automotive industry experience, 21 years of which have been with Magna. In his previous role as Magna’s CTO, the company further strengthened its cultu...

Knorr-Bremse CEO and chairman of the executive board Bernd Eulitz has resigned from his post with effect from 31 August 2020, according to a company press release on 13 August. This was decided unanimously by the supervisory board in its meeting. The supervisory board has initiated the search for a successor. In the meantime, the remaining members of the executive board, Dr. Peter Laier, Frank Markus Weber, and Dr. Jürgen Wilder, will take over the responsibilities of Eulitz during th...

Bridgestone Americas, Inc. has appointed Charlie Rule, formerly VP of Operations, Latin America, as president, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations Latin America (BATO LA), according to a company press release on 3 August. The appointment is effective 1 August. Rule succeeds Joseph Saoud for the company's Latin America business. "Charlie has played a significant role in the transformation of our Latin America business, shaping our go-to market approach, driving efficiencies and increasing our...

Schaeffler has appointed Dr. Klaus Patzak as its new CFO and a member of the Board of Managing Directors, effective 1 August 2020, according to a company press release. In his new position, Dr. Patzak’s will oversee the Finance and IT functions. He will succeed Dietmar Heinrich, who will leave Schaeffler 31 July 2020 to pursue new challenges in his career. Significance: Patzak began his career in 1993 in the Finance department of Siemens AG, where he most recently served as a mana...

American automotive components manufacturer Tenneco has announced that Kevin Baird will be taking over as the chief operating officer (COO) of the company. In a statement issued by Tenneco on 10 July, the company stated that its board of directors has confirmed the appointment, and Baird will be assuming his role effective 3 August 2020. He will lead and support critical strategic and operations initiatives that deliver margin expansion and cash generation improvements. Prior t...

Matti Masanovich has resigned from the post of executive vice president and chief financial officer (CFO) of Superior Industries International, Inc., effective 6 August 2020, the supplier of aluminum wheels for OEMs and the European aftermarket announced in a press release on 9 July. Masanovich will join Tenneco, a global OEM and aftermarket automotive supplier, as CFO. The company has initiated a comprehensive search to identify a permanent replacement. In addition, the company said it ...

Tenneco has appointed Matti Masanovich as the company’s new CFO, according to a press release on 9 July 2020. The appointment is effective 10 August 2020. Masanovich will succeed interim CFO Ken Trammell. Significance: Masanovich has more than a quarter-century of global experience in roles with original equipment and aftermarket automotive companies. Prior to Tenneco, Masanovich served as CFO of Superior Industries International. Before that, he served as SVP and CFO at General Cable Corpo...

Cooper Standard has announced certain changes to its global leadership team, effective 1 August, according to a company press release on 23 June 2020. The company has appointed Patrick R. Clark as senior vice president and chief global manufacturing officer. He will replace Hans O. Helmrich, who is leaving the Company to pursue another opportunity. In addition, Christopher E. Couch will be responsible for global product development, product strategy, and program management; while continuing to l...

The Board of Directors of Pirelli & C. SpA has nominated Marco Tronchetti Provera as executive vice chairman and CEO, according to a company press release on 22 June 2020. The new board was nominated during an 18 June shareholders meeting, which proposed to reinstate Marco Tronchetti Provera as executive vice chairman and CEO, and Ning Gaoning as chairman for a three-year period to end of 2022. Significance: Under the new board structure, Trochetti will continue to carry out the oper...

Metal processing specialist, the Benteler Group, has announced the appointment of Dr. Arno Haselhorst as its Chief Restructuring Officer (CRO). According to a press statement issued by Benteler on 19 June, the company has stated that Dr. Haselhorst will be the fourth member of the company’s Executive Board. He will be responsible for the restructuring measures within the transformation program of the company. Dr. Haselhorst has over 30 years of experience in industry and consulting with a f...

South Korean tiremaker Hankook Tire has appointed Curtis Brison as vice president of Hankook Tire America's US Passenger Car and Light Truck (PCLT) Sales, according to a company press release on 10 June 2020. The appointment is effective 1 June 2020. In this new role, he will be responsible for all US PCLT sales and corporate accounts. Significance: Brison has extensive knowledge and expertise in tire and automotive sectors. Most recently he served as vice president of Sales and Marketing for...

Andreas Wolf, the chief executive officer of Vitesco Technologies, has been appointed to the executive board of German automotive components and systems supplier Continental AG. In a press statement released by Continental on 3 June, the company has announced that the appointment of Wolf will be with effect from 3 June 2020, and that it will be for a term of three years. Additionally, if the planned spin-off of Vitesco Technologies will take place within this three year period, the appointment t...

Nokian Tyres has appointed Jukka Moisio as president and CEO of the company, according to a company press release on 26 May. The appointment is effective 27 May. “I am very pleased to have Jukka Moisio starting to lead Nokian Tyres”, says Jukka Hienonen, chairman of Nokian Tyres’ Board of Directors. “Jukka Moisio has a proven record in successfully leading stock listed companies and company turnarounds, delivering strong financial performance and shareholder returns. He also has a dee...

Nokian Tyres has appointed Christy McDaniel as head of Supply Chain for the Americas region, according to a report by Tire Business on 14 May. In her new position, McDaniel will manage the logistics, supply chain planning, and customer service divisions. Significance: McDaniel has almost two decades of experience organizing logistics and supply chain processes across a variety of industries. She joins Nokian Tyres from Danaher Corporation, where she served in global leadership roles for mu...

India-based Sandhar Technologies has promoted Narender Kumar Dogra as the interim CFO with effect from 11 May, the company said in a filing with Bombay Stock Exchange on 12 May. Dogra is currently serving as assistant vice president of the company. Significance: Dogra replaced Arvind Joshi, who resigned from the CFO post on 10 May due to personal reasons. Joshi joined the company as CFO in 2006, moving up the ranks to add the roles of compliance officer and director, Finance and Pro...

Japanese supplier Bridgestone has appointed Masahiro Higashi as global chief operating officer (COO), according to a company press release on 11 May. He will also continue as global chief administration officer and representative executive officer. He is concurrently responsible for Japan Tire Business. He joined Bridgestone in 1985. Since then, he has held various leadership roles including director, vice president and officer of Consumer Products Global Marketing Strategy and Motorsport. Be...

Sandhar Technologies' chief financial officer (CFO) Arvind Joshi has resigned from the post due to personal reasons, the company said in a filing with Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) on 11 May. The resignation is effective 10 May. Significance: Joshi had been with Sandhar Technologies for more than 15 years, serving in a variety of leadership capacities including company secretary and compliance officer of the company. Before Sandhar, Joshi had worked with Global Steel Holdings Ltd. as head-inter...

Shiloh Industries, Inc., a global supplier of lightweighting, noise and vibration solutions, has appointed Cloyd J. Abruzzo as the company’s interim CEO effective immediately, according to a company press release on 5 May. Abruzzo, the retired CEO of Stoneridge, has over 25 years of experience in the automotive industry and has served as a member of Shiloh’s Board of Directors since 2004. Ramzi Y. Hermiz, Shiloh’s CEO since August 2012, has resigned from the company to pursue other p...

Nokian Tyres has appointed Adrian Kaczmarczyk as senior vice president (SVP), Supply Operations, according to a company press release on 27 April. The appointment is effective 1 November 2020. Adrian will report to the President and CEO Hille Korhonen. Nokian Tyres current SVP of Supply Operations, Esa Eronen, will retire at the end of this year after working for more than 30 years with the company. Significance: Kaczmarczyk has almost two decades of experience in leading supply operations in...

Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. has appointed Naoki Miyazaki as the new chairman of the company and Toru Koyama as the new president, according to a company press release on 23 March. Miyazaki is currently serving as president, while Koyama is currently serving as executive vice president. The company said that “these appointments will be officially made at its 97th General Shareholders’ Meeting scheduled to be held in June 2020 and the Board of Directors Meeting that will be held soon after the Shar...

The Supervirsory Board of Knorr-Bremse AG has appointed Frank Markus Weber as the new CFO of the company, effective 1 August 2020, according to a company press release on 4 March. Frank Markus Weber has held various positions at Mercedes Benz AG and Daimler AG. He has extensive experience in the financial and truck sector in particular, also through his position as CFO of Mitsubishi Fuso Truck & Buses in Tokyo, Japan, and Daimler Trucks Asia. Bernd Eulitz, chairman of the executiv...

Pirelli has appointed Pietro Berardi as the new CEO for the North America region, effective 1 March 2020, Tyre Press reported on 17 February. Berardi will replace Marco Crola, who will assume the role of chairman of the North America region. As the CEO of Pirelli’s North American division, Berardi’s responsibilities will include strengthening the business’s command of the market and develop it further from its current stage. Additionally, he will be in charge of executing strategies and...

Nidec Corporation has appointed Jun Seki as new president and chief operating officer (COO), according to a company press release on 4 February. Seki is set to take the post effective 1 April. Seki is currently serving as special executive consultant. Prior to that, Seki was executive officer, vice-COO, and senior vice president. Seki had also worked with Nissan Motor Co Ltd. Nidec said the new management will help further enhance the company’s management system to generate consolidate...

Bridgestone Corporation has appointed Gabriel Asbun as member of the board and group president of Americas Tire for Bridgestone Americas (BSAM), the tire-maker announced in a press release on 29 January. Asbun will be based in Nashville, Tennessee, and report to Paolo Ferrari. He will succeed Higgins. Gabriel Asbun is currently serving as vice president and senior officer of Bridgestone Corporation and member of the board, CEO and chief operating officer (COO) of Bridgestone Asia Pacific (BSCAP)...

Meritor has appointed Chris Villavarayan as executive vice president and chief operating officer (COO), effective immediately, according to a company press release on 16 January 2020. In his new role, Villavarayan will be responsible for both of Meritor's business segments, Global Truck and Aftermarket & Industrial and Trailer, and will continue to report directly to Jay Craig, Meritor's CEO and president. Prior to this new role, Villavarayan had served as senior vice president and presid...

Hankook Tire Europe has appointed Sanghoon Lee as chief operation officer (COO) and president, according to a company press release on 16 January. As head of Hankook’s European operations, Lee will be responsible for the entire operative business within the European and CIS-Region. Lee succeeded Han-Jun Kim, who will take on new responsibilities within the Hankook Tire & Technology Group. Sanghoon Lee has extensive international management experience. Prior to his new role, he served as...

At the CES 2020 event, American components supplier Tenneco announced changes to its executive leadership. In a press statement released by the company on 7 January, Tenneco informed that Brian Kesseler, the company’s Co-Chief Executive Officer and a member of its Board of Directors, will take over as the Chief Executive Officer of Tenneco, which is a newly consolidated role. The position of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Tenneco will continue to be held by Jason Ho...

Tire manufacturer Hankook Tire America Corporation has announced the name of its new president. In a press statement issued by the company on 3 January, Hankook Tire America named Soo Il Lee as its president, and it also stated that he will take office effective January 2020. Among other previous assignments, Lee was the company’s president and chief operating officer of its American head office between 2009 and 2012. He was appointed as the executive vice president, chief marketing officer...

Nexteer's president and executive board director Michael P. Richardson has announced his retirement, according to a company press release on 2 January. The company has appointed Tao Liu, who is serving as senior vice president and global chief operating officer, as the new president. Richardson began his career in 1974 at the former Saginaw Steering Gear Division. Subsequently, he held a range of assignments across skilled trades, manufacturing, engineering, and business leadership within the...

Gestamp, a manufacturer of highly engineered metal components for the automotive industry, has appointed Carmen de Pablo as the company’s new Chief Financial Officer (CFO), the Spanish company announced in a press release on 19 December. De Pablo will succeed Miguel Escrig, who will step down from his position as CFO, as mutually agreed with the company. Previously, De Pablo has worked as director of Corporate Development and Investor Relations. She joined Gestamp in 2013. Among other ...

Japanese tire manufacturer Bridgestone Corporation has announced a series of changes in its executive management. According to a press release issued by the company on December 16th, these changes affect the American, Indian and EMEA regions. As part of the changes, Gordon Knapp, the Vice Chair and Executive Officer of Bridgestone Corporation and President, CEO and COO of Bridgestone Americas, will relinquish his executive roles, after having served as President and CEO of Bridgestone America...

Sogefi has appointed Mauro Fenzi as the new CEO of the company, according to a company press release on 9 December 2019. This comes after the resignation of the current CEO Laurent Hebenstreit. Fenzi many years' international experience in the automotive sector, particularly in the field of industrial automation and robotics. Most recently, he was CEO of Comau (FCA Group), where he he had been since 2001, having held various positions of responsibility.

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company has appointed Ben Patel senior vice president and chief technology officer (CTO), according to a press release on 20 November. In his new role, Patel is responsible for product planning and development, as well as engineering and technology across all regions. He leads a technology organization that includes a global technical center as well as technical centers in Asia, Europe, and North America. Patel has more than 20 years of experience. Before joining...

Schaeffler’s chief financial officer (CFO) Dietmar Heinrich will retire on 31 July 2020, according to a company press release on 5 November. The company will announce a successor in due course. Heinrich began his professional career in October 1990 at Alfred Kärcher GmbH & Co. KG, where he worked in Controlling. In 1995, he joined the Schaeffler Group. From 2001 to 2005, he served as Commercial Director at the company's location in Seoul, Korea, in which he was responsible for the Fina...

Schaeffler India has appointed Sanjeev Saxena as the new Automotive President, according to a company press release on 23 October. In his new role, Saxena will be responsible for the Automotive business of Schaeffler in India. Operating out of the company headquarters in Pune, he will report to Harsha Kadam, CEO Schaeffler India. Prior to this, Saxena served as Business Vertical Head, Information and Connected Systems at Spark Minda Group, and CEO and managing director, Minda SAI and Minda St...

Superior Industries International Inc, a supplier of aluminum wheel for OEMs and the European aftermarket, has appointed Andreas Meyer as senior vice president, president of European operations, effective 1 November 2019, according to a press release. “Andy has deep experience in operational leadership roles within the automotive sector and a track record of delivering results. We believe his qualifications will allow him to play an integral role in leading our European organization and w...

Volkswagen (VW) has appointed Dirk Große-Loheide as its new head of procurement of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand, effective 1 October, the automaker announced on 1 October. Große-Loheide succeeds Dr. Stefan Sommer, who was previously in charge of this brand function, in addition to his responsibilities as group board member for Components and Procurement. Sommer will now concentrate fully on his extensive tasks as a member of the group board. Große-Loheide has been working wi...

Schaeffler has announced the retirement of its chief technology officer (CTO) and Deputy CEO Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peter Gutzmer, according to a company press release on 1 October. Prof. Gutzmer served as the CTO and deputy CEO from June 2014 onwards, prior to which he was the chief research & development officer from 2011. Professor Gutzmer will, for a certain time, continue to support the company in an advisory capacity. As Gutzmer’s successor, Schaeffler has appointed Uwe Wagner appointed t...

Brose has appointed Raymond Mutz as executive vice president of its Drives business division, effective 1 September 2019, according to a company press release on 6 September. He succeeds Patrick Popp, who is leaving the company effective 30 September 2019. Mutz has been working with the Brose Group since 2006. He has served in a number of leadership roles. Alongside his management duties in the Brose Group, he was also responsible for building the product unit for drives and actuator technolo...

Toyo Tire has appointed Kenta Kuribayashi as president of its tire production subsidiary in Europe, according to a company press release on 29 August. Kuribayashi will continue serving as chairman and CEO of Toyo Tire RUS LLC. and president of Toyo Tire Europe GmbH, as well as corporate officer, president of tire production subsidiary in Europe. Significance: In June Toyo Tire announced organizational structural and personnel changes to ensure steady implementation of its growth str...

Chassix has appointed Cemal Aydogan as vice-president of Operations, Americas, according to a press release on 28 August. In his new role, Aydogan will be responsible for the management and coordination of all North and South America plant operations, including 15 manufacturing facilities in the United States, Mexico and Brazil. He will be based in the Southfield, Michigan headquarters and will report to Chassix president and CEO Andreas Weller. Aydogan will ensure the effectiveness of the plant...