Continental AG has named a new leader of its global commercial tire business unit. Christian Koetz takes over for Andreas Esser. Koetz previously served as head of the passenger and light truck replacement tires in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) since June 2011. Additionally, he was president of the European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers’ Association (ETRMA) from January 2015 to December 2017. From 2006 to 2011 Koetz worked as senior vice president in Continental's central research and development department in Hanover, Germany. Earlier he had held several positions in the original equipment department for passenger and light truck tires in North America and Hanover.
Koetz reports to Nikolai Setzer, member of the executive board and head of Continental's tire division.
Esser will lead the truck tire business in Asia Pacific in Malaysia. He will report to Koetz.
Philipp von Hirschheydt will take Koetz's place in EMEA.
Ferdinand Hoyos will take over von Hirschheydt's post as head of passenger and light truck replacement tires for the Asia Pacific Region.
Von Hirschheydt and Hoyos will report directly to Setzer.
Setzer says, “The goal of these personnel changes is to make use of the extensive international and functional expertise these individuals have gained in their long careers, and so strengthen our global team in order to satisfy even better the needs of customers in terms of excellence and speed. This is an important element of our long-term growth strategy ‘Vision 2025.’”
