Conti Tire Americas chief to take on non-tyre role

Matthias Schönberg, who has served as chief executive officer of Continental Tire the Americas since October 2006, is soon to leave the company’s American operation to assume management of the ContiTech Fluid Technology business unit on July 1. Schönberg will take over this Germany-based position from incumbent Hannes Friederichsen, who as of October 1 will take on management of the Air Spring Systems business unit; current manager Dr. Thomas Johannsen, who is credited for transforming the Air Spring Systems business unit from an air spring manufacturer located in Hanover, Germany into an international supplier of air spring systems with plants in six countries, has announced his impeding retirement. Mr. Schönberg's replacement has yet to be named.

“Both of these positions are of major strategic significance for ContiTech,” said ContiTech CEO Heinz-Gerhard Wente. “We are thus strengthening two business units that will be experiencing above-average growth in the future and that are already very well positioned at the international level. We are delighted that we have been able to win over these two accomplished and internationally experienced managers for these positions, thus guaranteeing and expanding the successful development of both business units in the future.”

In announcing these management changes, Continental shares that in recent years Matthias Schönberg “brought Continental Tire the Americas on track for success and sustainably positioned the brands in the markets of North and South America.” In the future, he will strengthen the Fluid Technology business unit, which produces hose line systems for the automotive industry, machine and systems construction, as well as oil extraction. Schönberg has held various management positions at Continental since 1998.

Hannes Friederichsen has been with Continental since 1991. The former head of the company’s tyre plant in Stöcken, Germany joined ContiTech in 2003 and has since played an active role in the Fluid Technology business unit. Most recently, he headed the largest segment – Heating, Cooling and Charge-Air – before temporarily taking on the position of general manager of ContiTech Fluid Technology early in February. ContiTech Air Spring Systems manufactures air spring systems for commercial vehicles, the rail transport sector and other key industries.