Automotive News Europe - February 16, 2009 - 21

February 16, 2009 Personnel www.autonewseurope.com · PAGE 21 Renz takes Audi’s top sales job in Germany Audi has named Michael-Julius Renz as the new head of sales for Germany. The 51year-old executive started February 1. He succeeded Jörg Felske, who resigned from the position at the end of 2008. Renz will reRenz must mainmain the comtain sales growth. pany’s head of central marketing until a replacement is found. The German national started working at the carmaker in 1994 as head of retail marketing. During his time at Audi he has spent time leading sales units in the Middle East, southern Europe and the Gulf states. Hurtej Kaur New leaders take over Ford’s research center in Aachen Andreas Schamel and Pim van der Jagt have been appointed managing directors of the Ford Research Center in Aachen, Germany. They started their new jobs February 1, following the retirements of Charles Wu and Horst Schulte. Schamel, 46, is the site manager and has overall responsibility for the center’s operations. He also is the center’s chief engineer in charge of powertrain. Schamel moves to Aachen from Ford Motor’s US headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan, where he was chief engineer, engine research, research and advanced engineering. While in the US, the German native did research and testing on gasoline, diesel and hydrogen internal combustion engines. He has been with Ford since 1987. Van der Jagt, a 45-year-old Dutch native, has worked in Aachen since 1996. He is the center’s executive technical leader of global advanced vehicle dynamics. This includes the German native, he will succeed Wilfried Porth as global head of Daimler’s vans division in April. Porth will become Daimler’s head of human resources. Bernhard was a top executive He joined BMW in 2002. Abbott is currently the UK sales director, a post he has held since August 2006. He joined BMW in 1986 and held several positions in the regional and then national sales teams. Hurtej Kaur Toyota appoints new head of Europe r&d Toyota Motor Europe has named Masato Katsumata its senior vice president of research and development. He succeeds Kazuhiko Miyadera starting February 1. Miyadera moves back to Japan to take over a new position within supplier Toyota Boshoku. Toyota owns 39.5 percent of Boshoku. Katsumata Katsumata helped arrives from Japan with ex- on car for Europe. pertise in developing vehicles for Europe. In 2005, he was named chief engineer for the redesign of a Toyota vehicle that will be revealed at the Geneva auto show next month. Katsumata joined Toyota Motor in 1987 after graduating with a degree in hydrodynamics from Tokyo University. He started his career as a chassis engineer before making the shift to product planning in 1993 and product management in 2000. In 2003, he returned to the planning division where he managed mid-term r&d strategy. Staff Report Schamel is an expert in gasoline, diesel and hydrogen powertrains. development and implementation of Ford’s active safety systems. Wu, 60, joined the Aachen center last July. He spent more than 34 years with Ford. Schulte, 59, joined at Daimler between 1994 and 2004. He left in 2004 after he was passed over to succeed Jürgen Hubbert as head of the Mercedes luxury cars division. Bernhard was lured to VW in 2005 by CEO Bernd Pischetsrieder and put in charge of the struggling VW brand. He left the carmaker in early 2007 and joined Cerberus Capital Management. Van der Jagt plays a key role in vehicle dynamics for Fords around the world. Ford at the center in Aachen in 1999 as a chief engineer and managing director. Staff report Bernhard rejoins Daimler as head of van unit MUNICH Wolfgang Bernhard will return to Daimler to head the company’s Mercedes-Benz Vans unit, Daimler said. Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche said: “I am delighted that Wolfgang Bernhard is back at Daimler. I have valued his knowledge and experience since the time we spent together in the United States.” Bernhard, 48, is a former chief operating officer at Chrysler group and head of Volkswagen brand. A Abbott takes over BMW UK’s top spot Tim Abbott is the new managing director of BMW UK. He started February 1. Abbott, 51, succeeds Klaus Kibsgaard, who has moved to a new senior management post in the BMW group sales and marketing division. Kibsgaard, 48, was president of BMW Portugal from 2003 to 2008. Bernhard returns to Daimler. Paul McVeigh Classified Phone: +49 8153 907433 E-mail: ameinerslangs@craincom.de Production of the Audi A1, shown here as a concept, starts in Brussels later this year. TeleflexGFI, a business unit of Teleflex Power Systems, is a leading supplier to the alternative fuels industry with more than 30 years of proven experience. Offering a comprehensive range of alternative fuel components, systemlevel certified kits, and best-in-class services, TeleflexGFI provides original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), country distributors, and aftermarket installers with a rich portfolio of solutions from concept to vehicle integration and assembly. TeleflexGFI has two main locations: in Gorinchem (The Netherlands) and in Ontario (Canada). TeleflexGFI focuses on global automotive, bus, heavy duty and industrial applications. Their products include state-of-the-art electronic fuel injection systems designed for a wide range of Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) applications. Combining the technology and strengths of the former TeleflexGFI Control Systems (TeleflexGFI) in North America, AG Autogas (SGI) in The Netherlands, and Koltec-Necam (GSI) in The Netherlands, TeleflexGFI’s products meet or exceed the most rigid customer and quality specifications, providing excellent performance and superior emissions control. For the location in Gorinchem we are looking for a Photo: Philip Meech Audi exec: US is not ready for entry-premium car At $25,735, the new Audi A1 will be too expensive for Americans April Wortham Automotive News Europe HERNDON, Virginia, USA Audi of America President Johan de Nysschen says the US and its small-equalscheap mentality isn’t ready for entry premium models such as the Audi A1, which goes on sale in Europe next year. De Nysschen said that Audi is “seriously looking” at bringing the A1 here in the car’s next generation in six to eight years. Bringing it here earlier could damage efforts to build widespread recognition for the Audi brand, he said. “People who know us consider us very highly, but not enough people know us yet,” de Nysschen said earlier this month in an interview at Audi’s US headquarters here. “I’d like to get that entrenched much more strongly, and it will probably take us another five to six years. That will be the time that you can kind of roll down the market with a smaller car.” De Nysschen said Audi’s US dealers asked for the A1, until they found out what it would cost. In Europe, the car likely will have a sticker price of about ¤20,000, that is about $25,735 “Not enough people know us yet.” Johan de Nysschen, Audi of America President SALES DIRECTOR EUROPE The Sales Director Europe will report on a day-to-day basis to the General Manager of TeleflexGFI Europe. The position is located in Gorinchem, The Netherlands. The area of attention will be Europe. The main challenges are: Developing the sales & marketing plans in line with the company’s strategy, and takes active ownership of the agreed annual marketing/sales plan Implementing, monitoring, evaluating, taking corrective action, so that objectives are achieved and strategies are implemented Developing existing and new customers Creating substantial revenue growth for the company in the coming years Building an effective organizational structure Organizing and managing Sales staff, including Customer Service, for several European regions The Sales Director Europe is/has: The candidate must be a seasoned sales/sales development professional with strong international Sales and Marketing experience, preferably in Automotive/industrial business. A minimum of 10 years previous commercial work experience TeleflexGFI offers: TeleflexGFI offers a challenging and independent position, an open atmosphere and an international and dynamic environment. Of course will TeleflexGFI offer a good compensation package. A minimum of 5 years International sales management experience A proven track record in successfully developing new markets Good strategic insight Very strong team builder, will generate loyalty Very mature and astute personality Prepared for extensive travel Strong commercial and negotiation skills People-oriented, team building spirit, team leadership A natural leader and persuasive communicator A socially confident individual with excellent interpersonal and communicative skills A “Deal maker” Excellent analytical skills and the ability to translate marketing strategies into achievable sales plans Highly cultural sensitive Hands-on, rolls up his/her sleeves, entrepreneur Action and result oriented, strong business acumen, competitive mindset Driven, a high level of energy and commitment Strong customer orientation Familiar and comfortable with a U.S.A. parent company Fluent in English and German, and, preferably, one or two additional (European) languages like French and/or Spanish. Contact: TeleflexGFI Europe B.V. Attn. Mrs J. Philippo Edisonweg 50, 4207 HG Gorinchem Tel: +31 (0) 183-612100 E-mail: jphilippo@teleflexgfi.com at current exchange rates. “They said: ‘This is impossible. You cannot charge this much for small cars,’ “ de Nysschen said. “In their mind, they were thinking $18,000 (about ¤13,800), because that’s the conditioning our society ANE still has.” More information about Teleflex you can find on www.teleflexgfi.nl or www.teleflex.com

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Automotive News Europe - February 16, 2009

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