Continental reorganises replacement tyres businesses in EMEA

Tyre manufacturer and technology company, Continental is reorganising the passenger and truck tyres replacement businesses in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa under the leadership of Philipp von Hirschheydt, former head of the passenger tyres replacement business in the EMEA region. In order to allow greater customer centricity while increasing the overall efficiency of the organisations, the passenger and truck businesses have now been merged into a single overarching business unit. The transformation of the business units had started on January 1, 2020. The new organisation became effective on July 1, 2020.

As of now, sales of passenger car, van and truck tyres will be managed in an integrated manner in the new Replacement Tyres EMEA business unit. Instead of product categories, the new joint organisation is structured primarily according to customer groups, such as major international key accounts, fleet customers, OEM after-sales customers, or customers in emerging markets, who will be comprehensively served according to their individual needs by dedicated specialist departments. Additionally, the merging of previously separate central functions, including the marketing and e-business departments, ensures greater synergy. One particular objective is ensuring that digital structures to optimise and personalise the customer experience are developed more quickly and effectively.

“The completion of the reorganisation measures marks a milestone for us. We have consistently looked ahead and organised ourselves closely in line with current and future needs of our customers – from local retail, wholesale and commercial tyre dealerships to international key accounts, fleet customers and OEM after-sales customers. This will allow us to serve all our customers with our products, services, and solutions as well as at every other touch point in an optimal way and strengthen our market position in the different countries and in the entire region. The merger will make us even more efficient and allow us to connect know how from previously separate entities and utilise it for the benefit of our customers,” says Philipp von Hirschheydt, head of the replacement tyres EMEA business.

Jon-Ander Garcia will continue to manage and develop regional sales in emerging markets in the Middle East and Africa as well as in Turkey and Russia.