Koetz to lead Conti tire division in management reshuffle

Hanover, Germany – Christian Koetz will take over the leadership of Continental Corp.’s tire division following a management restructuring to take effect next month.

Current tire division head and member of the executive board Nikolai Setzer will become the spokesman for the newly-created “automotive board”, Continental announced 14 March.

Koetz, who currently leads the commercial vehicle tires business unit, will assume the three-year tenure for head of tire division and corporate purchasing as of 1 April.

He will also become a member of the Continental’s executive board, the company added.

Koetz studied engineering management and joined Continental’s tire division as a trainee in 1996.

He was later responsible for key account management for the original equipment in North America, and then for research and development.

From 2011 to 2018, he headed the passenger and light truck tires replacement business for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, before taking the top position at the commercial vehicle tires business unit in July last year.

From 2015 to the end of 2017, he was also president of the European Tyre & Rubber Manufacturers’ Association (ETRMA).

Nikolai Setzer’s position on the executive board has been extended by five years ‘ahead of time’ to the end of March 2024.

In his role as the spokesman for the automotive board, Setzer will be in charge of “maintaining a unified business strategy” in this area.

Additionally, his team will be complemented with a chief technology officer (CTO) as of 2020, to advance automotive development activities.

Continental’s supervisory board also extended the terms of executive board members Frank Jourdan and Helmut Matschi ‘ahead of time’ until the end of March 2024.

CFO Wolfgang Schaefer’s term, which was due to expire this year, has been extended by five years to the end of 2024.

The reshuffle is in support of Continental’s current process of reorganisation to become a “leading technology company in our industries,” said CEO Dr. Elmar Degenhart.

The newly established automotive board will start operation as of April, to “lighten the load” on the corporate executive board and pursue the transformation process in the automotive area.

In addition to Setzer, members of this board include Frank Jourdan, president chassis & safety division; and Helmut Matschi, president interior division.

The board will be completed with Dr. Dirk Abendroth, CTO of automotive; as well as the heads of finance & controlling and HR for automotive, who are yet to be appointed.