Continental appoints tire unit manager

Hanover, Germany – Continental AG has promoted Enno Straten to managing director of the Commercial Specialty Tires business unit, succeeding Michael Martens, who left the company to pursue interests outside the industry.

His appointment was effective 1 July.

Straten has been with Continental for 17 years, most recently as vice president of key account management for original equipment, Passenger & Light Truck Tires business unit for Continental Tire the Americas, based in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

“With Enno Straten, we have gained a very experienced manager for the business unit, one who has already demonstrated his extraordinary skills at our company over many years, both domestically and internationally,” said Andreas Esser, executive vice president of Conti’s Commercial Vehicle Tires business unit.

“He will press ahead with the strategic expansion of the business unit in the three core areas of material handling, earthmoving and agriculture,” he said. “Our goal is to provide customers around the world with customized solutions that meet individual and industry-specific needs.”

An engineer by training, Straten started with Conti in 1999 in research and development with the Passenger & Light Truck Tires division’s original equipment business unit. Since 2000, he has worked in various positions in key account management, including a position as automotive engineer and key account manager for Daimler AG worldwide.

Martens headed Conti’s industrial tires business unit from 2008 through year-end 2015, overseeing its conversion in 2012 to the Commercial Specialty Tires unit and the expansion of the company’s OTR tire portfolio and revival of the agricultural tire business.