Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann New Chairman of the Adam Opel AG Management Board, GM Europe President and GM Vice President • Steve Girsky: “Dr. Neumann adding significant management strength”

The Opel Supervisory Board today named Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann (51) chairman of the Management Board of Adam Opel AG, effective March 1, 2013. (Image: Adam Opel AG)
The Opel Supervisory Board today named Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann (51) chairman of the Management Board of Adam Opel AG, effective March 1, 2013. (Image: Adam Opel AG)

Detroit/Ruesselsheim. 2013-01-31 - The Opel Supervisory Board today named Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann (51) chairman of the Management Board of Adam Opel AG, effective March 1, 2013. In addition, GM appointed Dr. Neumann president of GM Europe and GM vice president. He will become a member of GM's Executive Committee and is expected to play a key role in the global leadership of GM.

Steve Girsky, chairman of the Opel Supervisory Board, said: “Dr. Neumann has in-depth knowledge of the automotive industry. He has a proven track record in growing business in a profitable way as well as in turnarounds. He will add significant strength to the Management Board and will be instrumental in leading the company on a turnaround path that will be counted among Europe's most successful.”

“Opel/Vauxhall is a key to General Motors’ global success,” said Dan Akerson, GM chairman and CEO. “This move will ensure that we have the best possible leadership in place as we continue driving toward profitability and growth in Europe.”

Said Dr. Neumann: “I am excited to lead a company with such a rich German heritage and strong product portfolio. I'm aware that this will be a challenging job, but I'm convinced that together with my leadership team and employees, we will turn around the company."

Dr. Neumann joins Opel/Vauxhall from Volkswagen AG, where he held the positions of CEO and vice president of Volkswagen Group China, and was located in Beijing from September 2010 to August 2012. Previously, Dr. Neumann held various other management positions within the Volkswagen Group, which he joined in 1999 as head of Group Research and director of Electronic Strategy. In December 2009, Dr. Neumann was appointed the Volkswagen Group’s chief officer for Electric Traction.

From 2004 to 2009, Dr. Neumann was a member of the Executive Board, Automotive Systems Division, at German supplier Continental AG. In addition, Dr. Neumann was chairman of the Executive Board of Continental AG from August 2008 to September 2009.

Dr. Neumann studied electrical engineering at the University of Dortmund and University of Duisburg, where he was awarded his doctorate degree. He started his career at the Fraunhofer Society as a research engineer and worked at Motorola Semiconductor as well as an engineer and director of strategy for the automotive industry

(Source: Adam Opel AG)

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