A new head of Continental has been named
Although it was expected that the current head of Continental, Nikolai Zetsche, would leave his post after the sale of the ContiTech division (which produces RTI) and the transformation of the company into a tire product manufacturer, plans have changed, and on December 17, it was announced that Christian Koetz, who has been heading Continental's tire business since 2019, will take over as CEO and Chairman of the Board of the German concern from January 1, 2026.
Earlier, the division for the production of auto components such as brake systems, displays, etc. was transformed into a separate structure, renamed Aumovio, and an agreement was signed to sell the Original Equipment Solutions (OESL) division, which produces RTI for the primary equipment segment. In addition, the internal preparation for the sale of ContiTech, scheduled for 2026, has been completed, and Continental says that all these steps "create the prerequisites for the final stage of the company's transformation".
Zetsche has been working at Continental for over 28 years, five of which he has held the position of CEO, and the decision on his departure, as reported, was made by mutual agreement.
"Nikolai Zetsche has played a crucial role in reorganizing Continental and creating conditions for the formation of three strong independent companies," said Wolfgang Reitzle, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Continental. "For this, he deserves the gratitude of the entire Supervisory Board, as well as my personal appreciation. Christian Koetz is one of the most outstanding managers in the global tire industry, and given his extensive experience and dedication to our business, we are firmly convinced that this is the right choice for the future leader of the company".
Zetsche noted that "in recent years, we have managed to transform a diverse portfolio of assets into three strong companies [Continental, Aumovio, and ContiTech] that are leaders in their industries". "After 28 years of working at Continental, it's the right time to pass on responsibility to Christian Koetz. I am grateful for the journey and proud of what we have achieved together. I also firmly believe that the tire business of Continental, Aumovio, ContiTech, and OESL have excellent prospects ahead".
Koetz has held various positions in Continental's tire division since 1996. Since 2019, he has been a member of the company's board and has previously led key areas such as the production of passenger tires for the secondary market in the EMEA region, the production of truck tires, and the development of passenger tires for the global market.
Regarding the main challenges that Continental will face in the coming years, Koetz noted: "Continental's tire business is extremely stable and profitable. By focusing on three main areas - developing the tire business in EMEA, North and South America, as well as expanding supplies to the OE sector and growing sales in the specialty tire segment - from 2026, we will occupy even stronger positions".
The future head of Continental also stated that "thanks to our broad presence in the secondary market, external factors such as economic cycles have a lesser impact on us than on traditional automotive suppliers, which are heavily dependent on automakers and new vehicle sales. In the tire industry, the main problems are related to changes in the competitive landscape, and, for example, new tire manufacturers from Asia are strengthening their positions in Europe and North America due to cheap exports. Our premium-class tires give us a clear advantage in terms of technology and brand, but we must strengthen it by constantly optimizing our cost structure. Additionally, the global tire market is experiencing only moderate growth, which makes it even more important to further increase efficiency and maximize the use of existing opportunities for future development".