Continental extends Kötz's term as tire chief

Hanover, Germany – Continental AG’s has extended the appointment of Christian Koetz as executive board member in charge of the Tires business and the group’s purchasing operations by five years until April 2027. 

Koetz was appointed to the German group’s executive board for a three-year term in March 2019.

Under Koetz's leadership, Continental expects the Tires business to remain "an important source of value and a guarantor of stability" for the entire group, said CEO Nikolai Setzer.

Koetz, he went on to say, has played "a pivotal role" in recent years in the promotion of new technologies, particularly digital tire solutions and the implementation of sustainability objectives with in the division. 

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 2018.

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