Continental's leadership overhaul signals bold new direction under Soussan

A sweeping leadership shake-up at Continental could redefine its future. With ContiTech's sale in play, Soussan's vision takes center stage.

, and Administrator

2026 May 24 . 8:02 PM

1 min read

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Continental's leadership overhaul signals bold new direction under Soussan

Tire manufacturer Continental is preparing for a major reshuffle of its executive board. Sabrina Soussan, who took over as supervisory board chair in late April, is leading the changes. The company may also sell its ContiTech division in the coming months. Soussan replaced Wolfgang Reitzle at the end of April and has since pushed for a restructured leadership team. The current executive board includes CEO Christian Kötz, HR chief Ulrike Hintze, CFO Roland Welzbacher, and ContiTech head Philip Nelles.

Discussions are now underway to expand the board by adding three regional directors for the U.S., Asia-Pacific, and EMEA. A new production chief role is also being considered, potentially increasing the board’s size to seven members. While no formal decision has been made, the company regularly reviews its executive structure.

The planned changes come alongside reports that ContiTech, a key division, will likely be sold in the near future. The restructuring aims to strengthen Continental’s global operations with dedicated regional oversight. If approved, the expanded board would reflect Soussan’s strategy for the company’s future direction. The sale of ContiTech would mark another significant shift in Continental’s business focus.