Helmut Ernst becomes Chairman of the Board of Directors of ZF Services

Transcription

1 Page 1/5, February 25, 2015 Helmut Ernst becomes Chairman of the Board of Directors of ZF Services Industry specialist Ernst embraces connected mobility Telematics services set to open up new business fields Predecessor Alois Ludwig shaped ZF Services and the industry As from March 1, 2015, Helmut Ernst (55) will take up the reins as new Chairman of the Board of Directors of ZF Services. The experienced industry expert will in the future steer the Aftersales Business Unit of ZF Friedrichshafen AG, expanding its range of telematics solutions and other tailor-made services for tomorrow's mobility requirements. His predecessor Alois Ludwig (66), who up to the present day has been instrumental in shaping ZF Services, is passing on the baton to Helmut Ernst and retiring from active working life. "The always-on society will develop rapidly in the coming years. This will again accelerate the networking of vehicles and infrastructure around the globe," explained Helmut Ernst, sketching the challenges but also the bright prospects for the ZF Services portfolio. "The connected workshop will evolve into a mobility manager, recommending maintenance or preventive repairs to vehicle owners as appropriate. We will develop the online services necessary for this and offer them to our customers." The proven industry expert Ernst has been working side-by-side with his predecessor Alois Ludwig since July 2014, making himself familiar with the day-to-day operations of the Business Unit and getting to know the international locations and customers. Now that the seamless transfer of the operative management role has been completed, Helmut Ernst gave an initial summary of the upcoming tasks in a press conference. "Efficient and effective data handling opens up new, attractive business models to many operators on the market. I firmly believe the independent

2 Page 2/5, February 25, 2015 aftermarket with solutions from ZF Services will profit from the dynamic changes in the mobility industry," emphasized Ernst. Dr. Stefan Sommer, CEO of ZF Friedrichshafen AG, took the opportunity of the changeover to thank Alois Ludwig for his decades of successful work: "He was a driving force behind various mergers and led the Business Unit to new heights within the ZF Group as well as on the international aftermarket." Dr. Sommer stressed Ludwig's special contribution to the global development of ZF Services, which always maintained its focus on customer requirements. "Alois Ludwig not only applied his vision to shape the development of ZF Services from a parts to a solution supplier, but also worked in various industry organizations to promote valuable initiatives dedicated to strengthening qualityconsciousness and technical know-how," continued Dr. Sommer. "With Helmut Ernst, ZF gains an adept successor and respected manager with international experience on the aftermarket, especially on the Asian markets so crucial to ZF." Industry expert with experience on all continents Helmut Ernst, born in 1960, studied at the University of Applied Sciences in Gießen, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Precision Mechanics, and Petroleum Chemistry. After graduating as an engineer, he started his career in 1985 as Head of Production Management at Continental. Following further activities in general management, he took on leadership responsibility at Continental Automotive Aftermarket with a focus on Europe, Asia, and the USA. As from 2007, Ernst was Vice President of the Independent Aftermarket Continental and Managing Director of Continental Automotive Aftermarket GmbH, headquartered in Frankfurt/Main. Additionally, he was Head of the Regional Sales Organization of the Commercial Vehicles and Aftermarket Business Unit. During this period, he was responsible, among other things, for integrating the aftermarket activities of VDO and Omitec Diagnose after their acquisition by Continental. Additionally, he took charge of

3 Page 3/5, February 25, 2015 establishing aftermarket activities in South America and China, and developing additional product lines for the spare parts business. Formative leadership personality for ZF Services Alois Ludwig, born in 1949, joined Boge GmbH in 1970 after completing his training as an industrial manager. In various leading positions at Mannesmann Sachs AG, he was in charge of international sales in the independent spare parts market. In 2002, he bundled the aftermarket trading activities of ZF, merging the companies Sachs Handel and Lemförder International. Next, he became Chief Executive Officer of the new ZF Trading GmbH and in 2008 managed the fusion of ZF Trading and the company's Sales and Service Organization to create ZF Services. One year later, ZF's customer service activities were also absorbed into the ZF Services business unit. Thanks to Ludwig's exceptional talent for integration, these mergers quickly resulted in optimized processes and a steadily growing reputation on the aftermarket. As Chief Executive Officer of ZF Services, he was responsible up to February 2015 for the business unit's worldwide service and trading activities with the product brands Sachs, Lemförder, Boge, ZF Lenksysteme, and ZF Parts. Alois Ludwig was also always committed to the development of the industry as a whole. This led to his activities as an initiator of industry organizations including VREI or Teilen e.v. and his active support for initiatives such as Qualität ist Mehrwehrt (Quality is Added Value). As he himself pointed out: "The aftersales market lives from the responsibility and sense of community of all professional competitors. Industry organizations are only successful when each individual member is committed to quality assurance and the evolutionary further development of the market."

4 Page 4/5, February 25, 2015 Caption: Alois Ludwig passes on the baton to his successor Helmut Ernst after over 40 years in the aftermarket business. Photo: ZF Services Press Contact: Fabiola Wagner Head of ZF Services Communications Phone: +49 (0) , Fax: +49 (0) , Jeannine Rapp, ZF Services Communications Phone: +49 (0) , Fax: +49 (0) , ZF is a global leader in driveline and chassis technology with 122 production companies in 26 countries. In 2014, the Group will presumably achieve a sales figure of more than EUR 18 billion with approximately employees. In order to continue to be successful with innovative products, ZF annually invests about five percent of its sales (2014: around EUR 890 million) in research and development. ZF is one of the ten largest automotive suppliers worldwide. ZF Services ensures that ZF systems expertise is carried forward consistently into the aftermarket. With integrated solutions and the entire ZF product portfolio, the business unit guarantees the performance and efficiency of vehicles throughout their lifecycle. Driveline and chassis technology by ZF is offered in the aftermarket business using the well-established product brands Sachs, Lemförder, Boge, ZF Lenksysteme, and ZF Parts. With its global service network and portfolio tailored to customer requirements, ZF Services has also become a popular partner in the non-automotive sector. In 2015, the company is celebrating its centennial. Originally named Zahnradfabrik GmbH, ZF was founded in Friedrichshafen in 1915 by Luftschiffbau Zeppelin GmbH among others. In its early years, the company developed, tested, and manufactured aircraft transmissions. After 1919, the company focus shifted under Alfred Graf von Soden-Fraunhofen, the first Managing Director and later member of the Board of Management and CEO, to the automotive and commercial vehicle industry. In this sector, the company established itself once and for all as a major technology supplier, registering numerous patents for innovative transmission technology. The first location

5 Page 5/5, February 25, 2015 outside Europe was founded in Brazil in 1958, launching a globalization drive that still continues today. In addition, ZF constantly expanded its range of expertise also through acquisitions. For instance, in 1984 ZF acquired the majority share in Lemförder Metallwaren & Co. KG, a move which extended the product portfolio to include chassis technology. Later, in 2001, ZF took over Mannesmann Sachs AG to strengthen its value creation chain with driveline and chassis components. It adopted the current name of ZF Friedrichshafen AG in Today's product range includes driveline and chassis technology such as transmissions, driveline and chassis components, as well as complete axle systems and modules. ZF products are used in passenger cars, commercial vehicles, construction and agricultural machinery, rail vehicles, and marine applications. The company also focuses on the wind power and electronic components business. In addition, ZF Services represents the Group on the international aftermarket. In 2014, ZF announced its intention to acquire US automotive supplier TRW. The shareholders of ZF Friedrichshafen AG are the Zeppelin Foundation, administered by the City of Friedrichshafen, holding a share of 93.8 percent, and the Dr. Jürgen and Irmgard Ulderup Foundation, Lemförde, with 6.2 percent. The "Motion and Mobility" slogan clearly states the company's core mission: Right from its foundation, ZF has developed and manufactured innovative products for all people around the globe who want to move things reliably, comfortably, and safely and experience the ultimate in efficient mobility. Quality, technological leadership, and innovative power have always defined the Group's identity today as much as ever. For further press information and photos please visit: