German braking technology specialist Knorr-Bremse has appointed Dr Peter Laier as the new Executive Board member responsible for the Commercial Vehicle Systems division.
Effective from 1 January 2016, the 47-year-old is to succeed Klaus Deller (53) who has filled this position in an interim capacity in addition to his role as Chairman of the Executive Board.
“We are delighted that … we have been able to recruit an Executive Board member for Knorr-Bremse with extensive management experience in the automotive industry,” Heinz Hermann Thiele, Proprietor and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Knorr-Bremse AG.
“Over the course of his career, he has amassed a comprehensive knowledge of the fields of development, production and sales. In addition, our company will benefit from his international experience, mainly in Asia.”
A Mechanical Engineer, Laier started his career as Group Leader at the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation in Stuttgart before moving to join Continental AG in Hanover in 2000.
In 2001, he earned his doctorate in Engineering at the University of Stuttgart. At Continental, Dr Laier held a variety of management roles, including head of the Hydraulic Brake Systems business unit and head of the Chassis Components business unit.
He gained international experience in positions including CEO of Continental Automotive Corp, Japan, and as head of the Asian region of Continental’s Chassis & Safety Division.
Prior to joining Benteler International AG, Salzburg in 2014, he was Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and a member of the Managing Board of Osram AG, Munich. Most recently, Dr Laier was Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Benteler Group, where he was responsible for the Automotive and Steel/Tube divisions, as well as for strategic corporate development.