25.09.2020

COO for Wacker Neuson

German telehandler manufacturer Wacker Neuson has appointed Felix Bietenbeck to the new role of chief operating officer. Effective October, he will join the executive board taking it to four members. The move is intended to free up chief executive Martin Lehner to focus more on the strategic direction of the company.

Bietenbeck, 55, joins Wacker Neuson after 30 years with Continental Tyre group, most recently as executive vice president of the Vehicle Dynamics division which has around 10,000 employees across 20 production and development locations.
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Felix Bietenbeck

His career with Continental began in 1989 when he joined the industrial engineering department of the ITT Automotive division. In 2003 he was transferred to Continental Mexico as manufacturing director, returning to Germany in 2006 as manager of a Continental industrial engineering plant. Three years later he was off to Shanghai to manage the Continental Automotive systems business. In 2012 it was back to Germany as head of global operations for EBS Germany, and then Vehicle Dynamics the following year. He left the group “on his own volition” in the spring of 2019.

Chairman Hans Neunteufel said: “With our portfolio of innovative light and compact equipment, we have experienced dynamic growth over the past few years. We are delighted to win Mr. Bietenbeck to the Wacker Neuson group, an experienced industry leader with proven operational expertise. This expansion of our executive board speaks to the growing number of leadership and organisational tasks required to make the most of emerging business opportunities.”

Chief executive Martin Lehner added: “I am delighted about the appointment of Felix Bietenbeck as his long years of experience and expertise will add great value to our company. The expansion of the executive board is an important step in efforts to reorganise internal group structures, which have been underway for some months now. The aim is to align our organisation even more closely with the needs of our customers, eliminate redundant structures, streamline reporting lines and give even stronger momentum to our innovative capabilities.”