Automotive News Europe - September 2011 - 86

AUTOMOTIVE NEWS EUROPE

HUMAN RESOURCES

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
VW, Nissan, BMW strengthen sales teams; Seat names new styling chief

any high-level executives are taking on new challenges in Europe. Volkswagen AG has lured former Nissan Europe executive Simon Thomas to head UK sales at Europe’s largest automaker. Simon Thomas, 51, took over as managing director of Volkswagen Group Sept. 1. He succeeded Robin Woolcock, VW’s UK boss since 2000. Woolcock, 63, took a new job within the VW Group. Thomas joined Nissan UK in 1991 from the Austin Rover Group. Thomas was named vice president of sales at Nissan Europe in 2007.

president of BMW North America in August, replacing Jim O’Donnell, 61, who will retire.

Ford relocates key product exec Samardzich to Germany
Ford Motor Co. has expanded global product program chief Barb Samardzich’s duties to include head of product development for all of Europe. Samardzich, 52, who remains vice president of Ford’s global product programs, started her new job at Ford’s European base in Cologne, Germany, Sept. 1. Samardzich replaced Frank Davis, who took a new role with Ford in North America. Samardzich joined Ford in 1990.

who became executive vice president as well as chief of staff and general counsel at Renault in May. She was one of the founders of the alliance in 1999. Mardrus, 52, has been the global logistics managing director for the Renault-Nissan alliance since 2009.

ZF names Sommer as next CEO
ZF Friedrichshafen AG has named Stefan Sommer its new CEO. The change takes effect May 1, 2012. Sommer, 48, will serve as deputy CEO to current CEO Hans-Georg Haerter starting Jan. 1, 2012, and succeed Haerter, 66, when he retires at the end of April 2012. Sommer joined ZF from German parts supplier Continental AG in 2008. Most recently, he has been heading up ZF’s strategic restructuring plan.

Nissan, Infiniti shake up Europe sales teams
As part of its goal of supplanting Toyota as Europe’s top-selling Japanese brand, Nissan and its premium subsidiary, Infiniti, have made a number of key moves. Nissan named Paul Willcox as its European sales and marketing chief. On July 1, Willcox succeeded Simon Thomas, who left the company to work for Volkswagen Group in the UK. Willcox joined Nissan in 1992 after starting his career at Peugeot in the UK. In 2008, he was appointed managing director of Nissan Motor (GB) Ltd. Guillaume Cartier, 42, is Nissan Europe’s new vice president for sales operations. Cartier, 42, replaced Bernard Loire, who was appointed head of Infiniti for Europe, Africa, Middle East and India. Cartier, who reports to Willcox, was managing director of Nissan Nordic Europe.

Seat gets new design boss from Renault
Alejandro MesoneroRomanos is the new design chief at Volkswagen Group Spanish subsidiary Seat. He succeeds Luc Donckerwolke, who moved to a new role as VW Group’s head of advanced design. Previously, Mesonero-Romanos, 34, was design director at Renault Samsung Motors. He worked for VW Group between 1995 and 2001 before joining Renault. Donckerwolke, 46, reports directly to VW Group Design Chief Walter de’ Silva in his new role.

German supplier Edscha has new CEO
German hinge maker Edscha appointed Torsten Greiner to take over as CEO July 1. Prior to joining Edscha, Greiner, a 45-year-old mechanical engineer, worked at Robert Bosch GmbH as production manager heading up the locking systems product unit and as a manager at Brose Schliesssysteme GmbH in Wuppertal, Germany. Edscha is controlled by Spanish automotive supplier Gestamp Automocion.

Ford picks Ovenden to head UK
Mark Ovenden is the new head of Ford of Britain. He succeeds Nigel Sharp, who, on reaching 65, decided to retire after 39 years with Ford. Ovenden, 47, left his position as marketing director of Ford Britain in 2006 to join the company’s management team in Russia. He became managing director for Russia in January 2010. Ovenden was heavily involved in the establishment of Ford’s new joint venture with Russian automaker Sollers.

Denso promotes Makino to lead Europe business
Denso Corp. named Yoshikazu Makino its new president and CEO for Europe. He started his new job June 22. Makino arrived in Europe from Denso’s headquarters in Kariya, Japan, where he was head of the company’s global business planning division. Makino succeeded Shigehiro Nishimura, who was named head of Denso’s AsiaPacific region. Makino has been with Denso since 1978.

BMW chooses long-serving exec for Europe sales job
BMW executive Nicolas Peter will succeed Ludwig Willisch as head of the company’s European sales, starting in October. Peter, 49, will have responsibility for all the carmaker’s European markets, excluding Germany. BMW sales and marketing chief Ian Robertson said Peter had extensive experience in sales and controlling that will enable him to master the individual challenges of different countries. Peter joined the automaker in 1991. He has held roles including head of BMW in Sweden and BMW Nordic. His predecessor, Willisch, was named

Renault-Nissan appoints exec to oversee alliance
Christian Mardrus was named managing director of the Renault-Nissan alliance effective June 1. He reports to the alliance’s CEO, Carlos Ghosn. Mardrus, 52, replaced Mouna Sephehri,

Mazda names new boss for European fleet operations
Mazda Motor Europe named Christian Blank to head its European fleet operations. Blank, who started May 2, replaced James Hopkins, who left the company.

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SEPTEMBER 2011

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