With effect from 30 November 2020, Elmar Degenhart will unexpectedly step down as head of Continental (Hanover / Germany; www.continental.com). The 61-year-old, who was at the helm of the automotive supplier for 11 years, cites “immediately necessary health precautions” as the reason for his decision.

“I would very much have liked to have continued to work on our structural reorganisation and our profitable growth and future programme, and experienced our future successes from it,” said Degenhart. If not for this unexpected resignation, his contract would have lasted until 2024.

Supervisory board chairman Wolfgang Reitzle thanked Degenhart for his many years of successful work and paid tribute to his “outstanding performance, his exemplary management and his great services to Continental’s track record.” He announced that a decision on the succession would be made at short notice, focusing on the “seamless continuation in the ongoing transformation, from a tyre manufacturer and automotive supplier to a future-oriented technology and software company for mobility.”

While the automotive supplier and wheel manufacturer recently announced expansion plans for its German production site in Hamburg, it has made massive cuts at other locations (see Plasteurope.com of 16.10.2020).