HANOVER, Germany — Continental A.G. has extended Christian Koetz's status as executive board member in charge of Conti's tire business and purchasing operations by five years until April 2027.
Mr. Koetz was promoted to his current positions on Conti's executive board in March 2019, succeeding Nikolai Setzer, who was named then as the spokesman for the then-newly created "automotive board."
Under his leadership, Continental expects the tire business to remain an "important source of value and a guarantor of stability" for the entire group, according to CEO Nikolai Setzer, who noted Mr. Koetz has played "a pivotal role" in recent years in the promotion of new technologies, particularly digital tire solutions and the implementation of sustainability objectives.
Continental recently reported that the Rubber Technologies business unit, which includes the tire business, reported a marked improvement in operating earnings in the quarter ended March 31 on 6.6% higher sales.
Mr. Koetz joined Continental's tire division as a trainee in 1996 before being given responsibility 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.
He was also president of the European Tyre & Rubber Manufacturers' Association from 2015-17.
