Continental has announced that two of its business units are under new leadership. The Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) Business Unit, which supplies the main components for drive electrification in hybrid and electric vehicles, will be headed up by Rudolph Stark (left) with immediate effect. The 50-year-old manager comes from within the company. As Head of the Transmission Business Unit since 2009, Stark was responsible for the development and production of transmission control units. His successor is Stephan Rebhan (50), who starts as Head of Transmission also with immediate effect. As the former Head of Development, Rebhan is already familiar with the Business Unit. Both Business Units are based in Nuremberg.
Rudolf Stark, who has worked for the automotive supplier for 15 years, began his professional career in 1993 as Head of Project Management at a medium-sized plant engineering company. In 1996, he moved to DaimlerChrysler Rail Systems, where he worked in project management for ICE and regional trains. In 2001, Stark moved to Continental’s predecessor Temic, where – after holding various management positions in the Powertrain and Chassis Divisions – he became Head of the Liquid Sensors Segment at Continental’s Sensors & Actuators Business Unit in 2005. Initially responsible for the European business of Transmission from 2007, he was appointed Head of the worldwide Business Unit in 2009. Stark has led the Business Unit very successfully since 2009 and prepared it well for the future. Rudolf Stark is qualified as a state-certified engineer, holds a degree in Business Administration, and has also completed management training at the Management School St. Gallen.
Stephan Rebhan (right) came to Continental from Knorr-Bremse in 2015. From 1994, after completing his degree in Mechanical Engineering and Business Administration at the Technical University of Munich, the qualified engineer worked for Fichtel & Sachs. He then went on to work in various roles for Mannesmann Sachs in the Clutch Systems Business Unit, including the role of Group Leader of Sales and Development for GM and Asian customers. From 2000, he headed up the Product Center for Active Chassis Systems at ThyssenKrupp Bilstein. This included positions as international Head of Production and Head of Program Management for Air Spring Systems and Electronic Dampers. In 2006, Rebhan moved to Knorr-Bremse, where he was responsible for the strategic growth of Powertrain activities, with the key areas of Transmission Automation and Engine Air Management. Since 2011, he was Head of the Competence Center Engine Air and Transmission Unit he joined Continental in 2015.