Continental AG’s Supervisory Board is experiencing a significant transformation in the wake of its Aumovio spin-off. This restructuring involves several high-profile departures and new appointments. Stefan E Buchner resigned on 4 September 2025 to assume the role of Chairman of the Supervisory Board at the newly independent Aumovio SE. Shortly thereafter, on 17 September, Dr Gunter Dunkel also stepped down.

The most significant new appointment is that of Sabrina Soussan, who is slated to join as a shareholder representative. Subject to her anticipated formal appointment by the local court at the end of September 2025, Soussan will then be nominated for election at the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting on 30 April 2026. Following that meeting, the Supervisory Board is expected to elect her as its new Chairperson. She will succeed the long-serving Prof Wolfgang Reitzle, who is scheduled to conclude his 16-year tenure at the close of the 2026 meeting.

Soussan is a German-French executive with over 25 years of experience in the automotive and transport sectors. Her extensive background includes leadership roles such as CEO of Siemens Mobility, senior positions at Siemens VDO and Continental, and most recently, serving as CEO and Chair of the French SUEZ Group. She also holds a position on the Shareholders’ Committee at Henkel.

Substantial changes are also occurring among the employee representatives. Petra Hartwig, Sabine Kühn, Michael Linnartz and Nicole Werner have been nominated for appointment, which is also expected to be finalised by the court in late September. Their appointments follow the resignations of several individuals, including Christiane Benner and Dr Matthias Ebenau, who stepped down because their roles at IG Metall no longer encompass responsibility for Continental. Furthermore, the employee representatives from the spun-off automotive business have also departed.

Assuming all anticipated court appointments proceed, the reconstituted Supervisory Board will comprise a blend of continuing and new members, including Prof Reitzle until his departure, and the newly appointed representatives.

Wolfgang Reitzle, Chairman of the Continental Supervisory Board, said, “Following the successful spin-off of Aumovio, we are now paving the way for an orderly succession. In Sabrina Soussan, the Nomination Committee has secured a highly qualified candidate for this role. I look forward to working with her and the other new Supervisory Board members. I would also like to thank the departing members for their commitment during this intense phase of transformation and for many years of trusted collaboration on the board.”

Soussan said, “Being nominated to the Continental Supervisory Board is a great honour for me. I look forward to becoming part of this outstanding team and supporting the Executive Board in implementing its strategy.”

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MAXAM Tire has named Chris Rhoades as its new Zone Sales Director for the Northern region, a move that underscores the company’s dedication to expanding its footprint and enhancing customer service within the speciality tyre aftermarket. The appointment reflects a broader strategy to strengthen leadership and competitive positioning in the sector.

Rhoades brings over 25 years of international industry experience and a well-established reputation as a leading voice in the tyre business. His leadership credentials include being elected to two separate terms on the Tire Industry Association Board of Directors. Most recently at BKT Tires, he managed strategic growth in complex and highly technical off the road markets, where he aligned regional execution with global strategy, led cross functional teams and consistently delivered measurable revenue increases.

In his new capacity, Rhoades will direct all sales operations across the Northern region, collaborating closely with customers and partners to ensure performance, service and support remain synonymous with the MAXAM Tire brand. His appointment signals a focused effort to drive results through experienced leadership and deep market knowledge.

Jimmy McDonnell, Vice President – Sales and Marketing, MAXAM Tire, said, “We are excited to welcome Chris to the MAXAM team. Chris brings deep industry knowledge, proven leadership and a strong customer-first mindset that will create immediate value for our partners. His experience and vision will play an important role as we continue to grow our presence, strengthen relationships and expend the MAXAM brand across the market.”

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Bekaert’s Board of Directors has announced the appointment of Olivier Biebuyck as the company’s next Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 June 2026. He brings extensive expertise in leading, expanding and transforming global industrial enterprises through both organic growth and acquisitions, positioning him to drive Bekaert’s future strategic goals.

On that same date, the board will co-opt Biebuyck as a director. Meanwhile, current CEO and board member Yves Kerstens will conclude his mandate on 31 May 2026, having led the company in recent years. He will also step down from his directorship as of that day.

The leadership transition marks a carefully planned succession, with Biebuyck’s track record seen as critical to advancing Bekaert’s long-term ambitions. The changes take effect at the end of May and start of June 2026.

Jürgen Tinggren, Chairman of the Board of Directors, said, “I am proud to announce the appointment of Olivier Biebuyck as CEO of Bekaert. The Board is convinced that he is the right person to lead the transformation of the company in its next chapter. On behalf of the Board and the entire Bekaert team, I would like to express our sincere appreciation to Yves for his leadership, commitment and contribution to the company over the past years, and wish him the very best.”

Biebuyck said, “Bekaert has an impressive history of innovation, business expansion and evolution. I am honoured to take up the role of CEO at Bekaert. I look forward to working closely with the Board, the leadership team and all colleagues around the world to further transform and grow the company and create long term value for all our stakeholders.”

Kerstens said, “It has been a privilege to serve as CEO of Bekaert and to work alongside our colleagues around the world during the past years. I am proud of what we have achieved together and wish Olivier all the best to lead the company in building a strong future.”

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Sri Lanka-based GRI Tires has extended its limited warranty coverage for pneumatic tyres to up to 10 years, effective from 2026, as the specialty tyre manufacturer seeks to strengthen customer assurance across its agricultural, construction and material handling businesses.

The revised warranty policy applies to all GRI-branded pneumatic tyres manufactured on or after January 1, 2025, and covers customers in more than 80 countries. The company previously offered warranty coverage of up to seven years.

Under the updated policy, agricultural radial tyres will be covered for up to 10 years, while agricultural bias tyres will receive coverage of up to eight years. Construction, earthmover, industrial, material handling, port and mining tyres will be covered for up to five years, subject to terms and conditions.

GRI said warranty protection would cover qualifying defects, with credit issued on a pro-rated basis.

For qualifying failures occurring within the first three years, and where radial tyre wear does not exceed 20 per cent, customers will receive a full replacement credit.

The warranty applies exclusively to the original end-use purchaser.

“This enhanced 10-year warranty is more than a policy update — it is a statement of our conviction in the quality of every tire we manufacture,” said Barry Guildford, global commercial director at GRI.

“We build tires to perform in the most demanding conditions, and we stand behind them.”

Customers can submit warranty claims through authorised GRI dealers and distributors, or directly through the company’s customer support channels.

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Georg Nordmann Holding Aktiengesellschaft (GNH) has appointed Martin Rathke as Managing Director of its subsidiary Nordmann (Nordmann, Rassmann GmbH), effective 1 May 2026. The move marks a strategic step in the company’s ongoing leadership development.

Rathke joins with considerable leadership experience and deep knowledge of international sales and distribution within the chemical distribution sector. His career includes years of service in a family-owned enterprise, where he held senior management roles with global responsibility. He will now share leadership duties with Ulrich Cramer, who remains in his position, and together they aim to form a closely aligned team to advance Nordmann’s strategic direction.

The joint leadership will focus on accelerating global expansion through targeted strategic, organic and inorganic growth while optimising existing operations and continuously refining the company’s portfolio strategy. Backed by the commitment of its shareholders, Nordmann seeks to strengthen its international presence and evolve into a global player in the chemical distribution industry.

Irina Zschaler, CEO of Georg Nordmann Holding Aktiengesellschaft, said, “Martin brings exactly the combination of entrepreneurial mindset, international experience and leadership strength that we value in our relationships and for our path to grow. Our collaboration is based on responsibility, integrity and the aspiration to create added value together for all involved and the entire group. We are therefore very much looking forward to welcoming our full Nordmann team.”

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