Continental Powertrain creates a broader structure for the development of future strategies and technologies functions
- Strategy & Technology department to be restructured and split into Technology & Innovation and Business Development & Strategy
- New management team: Dr. Oliver Maiwald to assume responsibility for the Technology department, while Christopher Breitsameter will lead Strategic Development
Regensburg, February 6, 2014. The Powertrain division of the international automotive supplier Continental is establishing a greater focus on its technological and strategic planning activities. Most recently, the Powertrain division's Strategy & Technology (S&T) department has been responsible for these two aspects of forward planning. It is now being replaced by the Technology & Innovation (TI) and Business Development & Strategy (BD) departments. Technology & Innovation will concentrate on the advanced development of new Powertrain technologies, the hardware and software architecture of next product generations and the coordination of innovation management. Additionally, the department will be responsible for the implementation of advanced development projects together with the business units in the Powertrain division. As of January 2014, the TI business unit is being led by Dr. Oliver Maiwald, former Engineering Manager at Delphi Diesel Systems in Wolfsburg.
Business Development & Strategy will focus on the development of a robust Powertrain strategy, the identification of new trends and markets, as well as working closely with customers and the relevant authorities to ensure Powertrain's products are optimally aligned with their requirements. Christopher Breitsameter assumed responsibility for this department in December. In addition to this new role, Breitsameter will remain in his current role as assistant to the Member of the Continental Executive Board and President of the Powertrain division José Avila. Both managers will report directly to Mr. Avila.
"For Continental Powertrain, advanced development and strategic planning are becoming increasingly important," said José Avila. "So we've adapted accordingly and created a broader-based structure in this area with a powerful organization. Dr. Oliver Maiwald and Christopher Breitsameter and their teams can fully concentrate on their respective remits and will work as closely with each other as they do with the Powertrain management."
Dr. Oliver Maiwald, 40, has considerable development experience in powertrain technology. After studying mechanical engineering in Karlsruhe and Stuttgart, his doctoral thesis was about the experimental investigation and modelling of combustion processes in internal combustion engines. He began his career in 2004 as a development engineer with the automotive engineering company IAV in Berlin. In 2006, he relocated to Neckarsulm to take over the role of lead engineer at Bertrandt Ingenieurbüro GmbH, where he was promoted to head of the Powertrain Development department, before moving to Delphi Diesel Systems in 2012.
Christopher Breitsameter, 30, has been assistant to José Avila, Member of the Executive Board of Continental AG since 2011. From 2003 to 2007, while still a mechanical engineering student, he worked in diesel injector development at Siemens VDO. It was here, as a production engineer and internal consultant for lean manufacturing methods, that Breitsameter began his professional career in 2007. From 2008 to 2011, he held the position of target costing manager at Continental and was responsible for the implementation of the target costing approach at the company's diesel injection facilities. Breitsameter earned a degree in mechanical engineering from Regensburg University of Applied Sciences, and holds a master in business administration from the University of St. Gallen.
Simone Geldhäuser
Head of Media Relations, Spokesperson Finance, Business and Technology
Vitesco Technologies